Roads and Highways Minister, Kwesi Amoako-Atta has given assurance that he will award contracts within a week to begin construction works on bridges that have been destroyed in the Upper West Region in the wake of last Friday’s downpour.
The minister who has been touring affected areas in the region gave the assurance when he addressed the media on his assessment of the situation. He described the impact of the floods as a national disaster that is at the heart of government; hence resources were being mobilized to get the roads fixed in record time to allow residents in affected areas get back on normal business.
“We have had an aerial view of the situation, even though it has never been underestimated. We are overwhelmed by what we have seen so far. We are however confident that the situation is not beyond solution” – Mr. Kwesi Amoako-Atta told the media.
He disclosed that a lead contractor has already been selected and is set to move to the affected sites once arrangements by the relevant agencies are concluded. The minister also mentioned that his ministry was collaborating with the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and other relevant institutions authorities to provide relief items for the affected persons.
Mr. Amoako-Atta was in the region with some officials of his ministry on Monday, August 16, 2021, to assess the extent of damage caused by the floods in the region. The Minister and other officials of the team, led by the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih flew in a helicopter to have a view of the destruction caused by the floods, including farms and portions of major roads that had been washed off.
The floods has cut off five districts from the regional capital, Wa.