The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwesi Amoako-Atta, has appealed to drivers in Bole, Savannah Region, to withdraw the additional transport fare necessitated by the broken bridge.
Heavy rains on Sunday damaged the Bole-Sawla road, forcing drivers to increase fares by 40% as they have to use longer routes to transport passengers.
Amoako-Attah said the contractor, who is already on site, has been directed to work 24 hours a day to ensure the temporary solution is completed within a week.
During an inspection of the affected road, Kwesi Amoako Atta pleaded with the drivers to reconsider their decision.
“I want to make a special appeal to them on behalf of the government that, this is a disastrous situation and nobody had control over it. It was occasioned by an act of God, and we must deal with it. The people are already suffering, going through difficulties and inconveniences.
“I want to appeal to the transport owners that, even if they want to charge a little bit extra, justifiably, because of the long route they have to use, they should also be a bit considerate and not just increase their fares, because we must be each others’ keeper,” the minister appealed.
The bridge, which is the link between the Upper West Region and the south of Ghana, was washed away after hours of heavy rain on September 17, 2023.
