Residents and road users across Upper West Akim can finally heave a sigh of relief after contract was officially awarded for work to begin on the long-abandoned River Oku rehabilitation project.
The Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Emmanuel Drah, said for several years, the overflowing River Oku has posed a major nightmare for the local populace, particularly throughout the rainy season.
Deluges regularly cause the river to burst its banks, completely cutting off access and leaving motorists, traders, schoolchildren, and pedestrians stranded under hazardous conditions.
Speaking in an interview on Rainbow Radio’s flagship news programme, Nyankonton Mu Nsem, Hon. Drah emphasised that taking on the critical intervention aligns directly with President John Dramani Mahama’s Resetting Agenda, an initiative aimed at fixing urgent infrastructural deficits and raising living standards across rural communities.
The lawmaker explained that fixing the crossing will permanently alleviate the severe hardship endured by commuters, restore seamless mobility, and boost commercial activities within the surrounding settlements.
Hon. Drah extended sincere gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and expressed deep appreciation to Rainbow Radio for its relentless, impactful journalism in shedding light on the community’s plight.
He noted that the news outlet’s consistent advocacy and persistent reporting on the deplorable state of the Asuokaw Bridge were instrumental in driving the necessary official response, adding that without Rainbow Radio’s crucial intervention, the dangerous crossing would have remained a life-threatening death trap for residents.
The MP called for continuous, constructive collaboration between traditional authorities, local leaders, engineers, contractors, and community members to ensure the seamless execution and long-term durability of the infrastructure.
He explained that in March 2025, he initiated steps to fix the bridge after engaging the Ghana Hydrological Authority.
By 2026, the government directed the Finance Ministry to allocate funds for emergency response activities, earmarking selected communities to benefit from these upcoming projects.
He noted that these preliminary actions to address the structure were already underway well before the contract for the 120-meter reinforced bridge was officially awarded to the contractor.
Currently, a 240-meter reinforced drain project is in progress, with completion anticipated within three months. He assured that full funding for the project is already secured and available.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana