In addition to the bridge, the seven-kilometre feeder road from Akwatia to Kusi has also been reshaped. The construction work was carried out by Messrs Horinsa Ghana Limited, a construction firm based in Accra, at a cost of GH¢18,174,225.33.

The contractor is currently constructing circular culverts along the road leading from Kusi to the bridge. Works are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Townhall meeting

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Denkyembour, Mr Seth Birikorang-Ofosu, led journalists to inspect the new bridge before addressing a town hall meeting at Akwatia last Thursday.

The town hall meeting was held to allow the district assembly render account of its stewardship to the people since coming into office.

Mr Birikorang-Ofosu said the completion of the bridge and the road would reduce traveling time from Akwatia to Kusi and from Akyem Wenchi to Oda and vice-versa.

He said last year the assembly spent GH¢94,000 on scholarships it offered to 120 tertiary students, while this year 73 students had benefited from the government’s decentralised scholarship scheme to the tune of GH¢80,000.

Scholarships

Mr Birikorang-Ofosu said the assembly had also provided five communities, namely Akwatia, Kusi, Takrowase, Wenchi and Apinamang, with three unit classroom blocks each with offices, stores, toilets and staff common rooms all at a total cost of GH¢1.1 million.

He said the government had awarded the tarring of the Akwatia, Kusi, Wenchi and Takrowase town roads, covering a total distance of 25 kilometres, on contracts.

According to him, the assembly had supplied 32,000 oil palm seedlings free of charge to some farmers in the district for oil palm cultivation and that additional 60,000 seedlings were being nursed for free supply to farmers.

Mr Birikorang-Ofosu said all was set to connect 22 communities in the district to the national electricity grid next year.

Referendum

He informed the people of the upcoming district assembly and unit committee elections, as well as the referendum on the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to be held later in the year and said a five-member committee, with him as chairman, had been constituted to intensify the campaign on the referendum.

“We expect to get a 40 per cent voter turnout and 75 per cent of the voters voting ‘Yes’ in order for the government to achieve its objective,” he said.

MP’s contribution

The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Madam Mercy Adu Gyamfi (known also as Ama Sey), enumerated the various projects she had funded with her share of the MP’s Common Fund as well as scholarships she had extended to needy, brilliant students in tertiary institutions.

The Chief of Akyem Topremang, Barima Adomako Nyarko II, expressed grave concern over illegal speed humps constructed all over the town and urged the DCE to take serious action on the situation to prevent motor accidents from occurring.

The Akwatiahene, Osabarima Kofi Boateng II, was chairman for the function. He praised the DCE and the MP for their hard work and commitment to duty.

He called on the assembly nonetheless to check encroachment on public and traditional lands and the siting of buildings on watercourses as means to check flooding in the town.