The Central Regional Minister, Hon. Ekow Okyere Panyin Eduamoah, has paid a working visit to Assin Tweanka in the Assin North Constituency to inspect the area's ongoing bridge construction project.
The visit followed the Regional Minister's 68th Independence Day celebration at Assin Breku, and was in the company of the Member of Parliament for the constituency, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson.
The construction of the bridge was a key promise made by the lawmaker and President John Dramani Mahama to the people of Tweanka and its environs during the Assin North by-election and the 2024 general election campaigns, hence one of the priorities of the lawmaker.
Assin Tweanka and its neighbouring townships numbering about 30, have over the years experienced stalled development having had the bridge linking these communities to Assin Breku deteriorate to a death trap, denying road users pleasant access route.
Speaking with the media after inspecting the project, Hon. Ekow Okyere Panyin Eduamoah, commended the Assin North MP for the work done so far to enhance the living condition of his constituents.
He reiterated the need for Hon. Gyakye Quayson to be assisted in executing the project on time before rains set in, having spent over GH¢30 million so far on the project.
The Regional Minister, therefore, offered to assist the MP with construction machineries including excavator, backhoe, and loaders from the Regional Coordinating Council's District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) for the swift completion of the project.
“If we want them to also feel real independence then we should be able to do this very soon so that rains will not cut them from school, rains will not cut them from hospital, rains will not cut them from other developmental activities,” the Minister stressed.
Meanwhile, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson, said the project became a necessity following series of complaints from chiefs concerning the poor nature of the community's old bridge as well as the road leading to the area.
According to the MP, he had to construct a 1.5 kilometre virgin road to the old bridge before construction of the ongoing bridge project could commence.
He observed that the construction of the Assin Tweanka bridge sort to enhance the welfare of his constituents while he bemoaned the challenges students, farmers, traders and even pregnant women had to endure while using the old bridge, coupled with the number of road accidents recorded on that very stretch of the road.
“A lot of people in Breku itself have their farms here, so it’s so hard for them when they do their harvest they have to circumvent and go through Nyankomase before they can come to Breku, you know, it’s costly. So they can’t even utilise much profit for their hard work. So all these will solve the problems for them,” Hon. Gyakye Quayson assured.
The project which commenced in October 2024 – four months ago under speedy work pace, is currently about 60% complete.
By: Henry Donkor