[ 2016-11-10 ]

Mining trucks, galamsey destroying Ankobra Bridge
Residents of Prestea have expressed fears that the
Ankobra Bridge serving them and the people of
Bogoso could soon cave, in considering the
deteriorating condition and cracks it has
developed.

This situation has made users live in fear that
they would one day wake up to see the only bridge
linking them and people of Prestea caved in.

The residents have laid the blame squarely on the
doorsteps of mining companies operating in the
area, as well as illegal mining (galamsey)
activities being undertaken by some residents
under the bridge.

Speaking to The Western File after a visit to
Prestea, the residents said that the continuous
use of the bridge by heavy duty trucks belonging
to the mining companies have contributed to the
cracks developing on the bridge.

A resident, who gave his name as Charles, took
this reporter to the bridge and said that they had
complained to their opinion leaders to stop the
heavy duty trucks from using the bridge, but
nothing has come out of it.

He said, apart from the heavy duty trucks using
the bridge, pedestrians also use it at a grave
risk.

“Sometimes we will have to wait for minutes for
the heavy duty trucks to finish carting their
goods before we can access same.”

A journalist, who did not want to be named,
mentioned Golden Star Resources, a mining company
operating in the area, of contributing to the
cracks developing on the bridge.

Said the journalist: “The bridge is all the time
shaking when the heavy duty trucks use it.”

A report, according to him, had been made to
chiefs and opinion leaders to find a way to stop
the heavy duty trucks from using the bridge, but
nothing good had come out of it.

Another area that has also contributed to the
cracks developed by the bridge has to do with
galamsey operators.

The galamsey operators, who mainly come from the
area, work directly under the bridge in search of
gold, and in the process, contribute to the
weakening of the foundation through the digging of
holes.

Source - Ghanaian Chronicle

... go Back