Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Nzema East Municipality in the Western Region, Hon. Frank Okpenyen popularly known as Franko has made a passionate appeal to the government as a matter of urgency to construct a street bridge over the Ankobra River in the area to save lives.

This bridge if constructed will link Gwira Wiawso to Kutukrom and will help cocoa farmers there to bring their cocoa pods to the Municipal capital for sale.

GhanaWeb reporter visit to the area with the MCE last two months revealed that the wooden bridge on the River has been deteriorated and poses serious death trap to the people.

The residents expressed worry about the bad nature of the bridge and the main road network linking to the area before the River.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony at Axim to commence the construction of a 5.8km Axim township roads where the official ceremony was done by the Minister for Roads and Highways on Tuesday, October 6, 2018, the MCE, Hon Okpenyen expressed worry over the bad nature of the bridge on the Ankobra River.

He said due to this situation, anytime one wants to travel to the area has to traverse three Municipalities before getting there.

He, therefore, appealed through the Minister for Roads to as a matter of urgency to construct an ultramodern street bridge to shorten the journey.

He revealed that the roads in the Gwira area of the Municipality are in deplorable state.

He called on the Roads Minister to visit the area to have a first hand information.

He added the bad nature of the roads there was a challenge for effective administration of the Municipality.

"...Nana Chairman, it is has also been observed from the itinerary of the Honourable Minister for Roads and Highways in the Western Region, to include the inspection of Simpa Junction to Gwira Aiyinasi-Gwira Wiawso road, which I believe will give first-hand information to the Hon. Minister for Roads and Highways, on the deplorable nature of roads in the Municipality. Aside the poor road conditions, the road network is equally a challenge for effective administration of the municipality", he said.

He added, "For instance, to reach part of the Municipality beyond Wiawso, one has to traverse three municipalities to get there. The journey could have been shortened if a street bride is provided over the Ankobra River from Wiawso to link Kutukrom.

He hoped "It is therefore our fervent belief that something positive will be done on this road to promote social and economic activities among the people in the Municipality".

The MCE used the occasion on behalf of Chiefs and people of the area to express his profound appreciation through the Minister for Roads and Highways to President Akufo-Addo for living up to his promise to the people of the Municipality.

He revealed "Nana Chairman, it is heartwarming to hear that, this municipality which is among the least District capital with tarred roads in the Western Region, will soon get some roads asphalted in Axim and Nsien township".

He, called on his people to pray for the long life of President Akufo-Addo and God gives him strength to develop this country.

"It is indeed our prayer that the Almighty God will continue to bless His Excellency the President and give him the necessary strength and wisdom to propel this country for development", he urged.

He also urged the gathering to rally behind the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mrs. Catherine Afeku to develop the Municipality.

On his part, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr. Kwasi Amoako Atta visited the area after the sod cutting ceremony to inspect the bad nature of the road and the River.

Interacting with the people there, Mr. Amoako Atta expressed his profound appreciation to the good people of Nzema East Municipality for overwhelming support given to the NPP government during the 2016 general elections.

He, therefore pledged his total commitment to construct an ultramodern street bridge on the Ankobra River to save lives.

The Minister disclosed to them that the 2019 budget which is yet to be read by the Finance Minister next week, has captured the Gwira roads and promised to construct the road network linking to all communities there.

Axim Township Roads Construction

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr. Kwasi Amoako Atta cut the sod to start the construction of the Axim town roads in the Nzema East Municipality.

The total length of road to be covered is 5.8km of asphaltic overlay.

The GHc12 million road infrastructure forms part of NPP government's efforts to improve road networks in the country motorable and also to make the various principal streets attractive.

It would be recalled that during this year's Kundum festival celebration by the Chiefs and people of Axim, President Akufo-Addo who was the special of guest of honour assured his commitment of asphalting the township roads of the area.

The 5.8km Axim Town roads will be constructed by Justmoh Construction Limited and supervised by the Department of Urban Roads.

He also thanked the Member of Parliament of the area, Mrs. Catherine Afeku for supporting the government for this project and charged the people to rally behind her.

He revealed that President Akufo-Addo directed him construct the Axim township roads immediately the President returned from the Kundum festival in August 2018.

"I was called by President Akufo-Addo after the climax of Axim Kundum festival to construct the Axim township roads and I am here in the name of President Akufo-Addo to perform his function", he revealed.

According to him, the project begins immediately and is expected to be completed in twelve (12) months.

He added that the NPP government is committed to the development of the people of Nzema East Municipality and therefore called on them to rally behind President Akufo-Addo and also pray hard for him.

He urged the people to embrace the project and support the contractor to complete the work on schedule.

The Roads Minister stated that government will not compromise on quality and value for money concerning the execution of all road projects in the country.

"We will do quality works for the people and I call on this contractor to be God-fearing and honest with the people to do quality work and I want to state it here that the NPP government will not spare any contractor who will do a shoddy work on our roads, such contractor will be punished", he opined.

He also acknowledged the impact of heavy rains in Western Region on the execution of the road project.

He, however, assured the people that the Ministry will create a strategic plan to overcome this impediment.

He, therefore, assured the people that his ministry would be monitoring the construction on time.

The Roads Minister who is also Member of Parliament for Atiwa Constituency used the occasion to promise the Municipality to construct the Nsien Senior High School (SHS) internal roads to make teaching and learning at the school very attractive.

On his part, the Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie appealed to the Roads Minister to construct the roads in the Region to make movement of goods and people very easy.

He said the roads in the Region are very bad and do not speak well for the area.

He added that Region is blessed with natural resources but the roads in the area are nothing to ride home about.

"Our major challenge is road network. Roads are better than Hospitals, if we construct in the Region, we do it for Ghana as a whole", he saddened.

The Member of Parliament for the area who doubles as the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs. Catherine Abelema Afeku thanked President Akufo-Addo for listening to their calls to construct the Axim township roads.

She revealed that since 1957 no government has developed the area than the NPP government and that the project, when completed, will face-lift the image of the late Paa Grant who was the founder of UGCC/UP traditions.

"These Axim township roads that you see here was first started by former President John Agyekum Kufuor in 2007 and unfortunately we lost power to the NDC and for good eight years they abandoned it and we thank God the NPP we come to power to complete it, let us all support President Akufo-Addo", she revealed.

Madam Afeku used the opportunity to reassure the good people of the Nzema East Municipality that, the Akufo-Addo led government is keen on infrastructure development which will lead to economic and social development as well.

She added "The projects we are currently undertaking in the Nzema East Municipality are just a tip of the iceberg, there are more projects intended to be started and completed soon within the Municipality. This is a sign that, the Akufo-Addo led administration is more of an action and vision driven one than some other administrations we have witnessed in the past".

She used the occasion to express her profound gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for always thinking about her area and called on her constituents to rally behind the NPP government.

She also entreated all Ghanaians to unite and continue to support His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo for the great work he is doing for this lovely nation.

"Let us rally behind President Akufo-Addo and his government and also pray hard for President Akufo-Addo for wisdom and long life and develop our area", she pleaded

She used the occasion to express her profound gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for always thinking about her area and called on her constituents to rally behind the NPP government.

"Let us rally behind President Akufo-Addo and his government and also pray hard for President Akufo-Addo for wisdom and long life and develop our area", she pleaded.

She, therefore, used the occasion to appeal to President Akufo-Addo to construct a Landing Beach for the Chiefs and people of Axim.

She seized the opportunity to appeal to the contractor to engage the local people in the labour work.

She promised to collaborate with the contractor to ensure speedy pace of the project.

The colourful ceremony brought the scores of people from the three Constituencies within the Nzemaland and other places to grace it and ended in a peaceful manner.

The Minister for Roads and Highways was accompanied by some staff of the Ministry, Western Regional Minister, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, Hon. George Mireku Duker, NPP Western Regional Chairman, Mr. Francis Ndede Siah, the media among others.