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Deplorable Galosota bridge in Keta turns death trap; as six fall into river

By Joy News|Ivy Setordjie
General News Deplorable Galosota bridge in Keta turns death trap; as six fall into river
OCT 22, 2014 LISTEN

Residents in about 25 communities in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region are appealing to authorities to reconstruct the Galosota Bridge which is in deplorable condition.

More than six people, mostly women and children on motorbike have since the beginning of this year fallen into the Vinye River through holes developed on the platform of the bridge.

The deplorable state of the bridge means residents in ten communities including Sogakope, Anloga, Dabala cannot access the Galosota Health Center as they are cut-off.

The Galosota Bridge, constructed twenty three years ago has not seen any major rehabilitation.

Several appeals by residents and Member of Parliament of the area to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to repair the bridge have fallen on deaf ears.

The number of vehicles that used to ply the route has decreased.

43-year old Diana Gbedzehe and a six-year old boy are the latest to fall into the Vinye River. Both victims received multiple injuries and are currently recuperating at home after being treated and discharged from a local health center.

Diana and other residents want an immediate government intervention to save lives.

A resident, Robert Awuku Chibeh fears for the life of children who use the bridge regularly either for school or farming activities.

43-year old Diana Gbedzehe
 
“We are afraid for the young children who pass on this bridge because they (children) don't know how to use the bridge.”

Even before government intervenes, the poor residents are being levied to start what is considered a capital-intensive project, a development some residents consider a herculean task.

Assembly member for Galosota Electoral area, Gershon Ashilevi confirmed to Joynews many communities have been cut-off as daily attendance at the local Galosota Health Center declines.

This is because residents are scared of their lives as they use the bridge which has become a death trap, he explained.

“This bridge is the only way that links the residents who have been coming to patronize the clinic here. If you want to go to Dzogbeve, Klonu, Agorta, Gamenu and all these areas, this is the only way they use to all these areas; and since the bridge is in this deplorable condition, people are afraid of coming. Even the attendance here has drastically reduced,” said Mr. Ashilevi.

Meanwhile, frustrated Member of Parliament for the area, Kofi Humado has since 2007 been appealing to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to intervene but nothing has been done.

He told Joy News several letters have been written to the sector minister.

He is hopeful the ministry will respond after initially sending a team of engineers to inspect the bridge.

“Sometimes pedestrians (who use the bridge) in the night [have] their legs trapped in the holes created on the platform of the bridge and resulting in serious injuries”.

“I have written to the Ministry of Roads and Highways. They have responded several times that they were sending a team of engineers there. It is unfortunate that up till now, no real work has been done on the repair of the bridge,” a worried Mr Humado explained.

 
 

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