Construction of 275-metre Dikpe Bridge in the Upper West takes off

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo cut the sod on Saturday 10 October 2020 for construction work on the 275-metre-long Dikpe Bridge in Lawra over the Black Volta in the Upper West Region.

By this action, President Akufo-Addo has begun to satisfy a 40-year request by the people of the Upper West, as there is currently no bridge over the Black Volta River in the region. Canoe services on the river are unable to meet the people’s transportation demands.

On completion, the Dikpe Bridge will also serve as the shortest route to Burkina Faso, not through Hamile but now through Bobo Dioulasso.

Keeping promises

Addressing guests at a later engagement in Lawra to re-present Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, the local NPP candidate standing for re-election as MP, the president recalled that on 15 October 2017 at the Kobine Festival in Lawra, he announced that the construction of the Dikpe Bridge was imminent and would commence after conclusion of bilateral discussions with the Government of Burkina Faso.

“These discussions have been concluded, and so, before coming here, I fulfilled that promise by cutting the sod for the commencement of construction of the Dikpe Bridge over the Black Volta River, and also for the construction of Lawra town roads and a bypass,” he said.

The contract, awarded to Messrs Griner Engineering Ltd, will cost €26,458,521.34, and will be completed in 24 months. It will consist of the construction of a bridge 275 metres long; the laying of 12 kilometres of Lawra town roads and a bypass; the building of a rest stop, consisting of a lorry park, a mini market, and facilities for the police, Immigration Service and Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority; construction of a toll plaza; and an axle load weigh station.

“Once completed, the project will serve several purposes. It will open up communities in the area, strengthen regional integration, improve all-year-round access to schools, hospitals and markets, eliminate interruptions in transporting people, farm produce and other items during the rainy season, and avoid long detours, resulting in reduced transport costs and travel time,” the president said.

He continued: “We in the New Patriotic Party deliver on our promises. We promised to construct the solar power plant in Lawra, and we have delivered. We promised to commence construction of the Dikpe Bridge, and we have delivered. We promised to upgrade Lawra from a district to municipality status, and we have delivered.

“With four more for Nana and Honourable Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, we will do even more for you.”

Click on the link below to listen to President Akufo-Addo.

Wilberforce Asare / Asaase Radio

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