Construction of a temporal bridge over River Sissili to begin in earnest


Preparations are underway to construct a bridge over River Sissili which has been on the drawing board for years. After several failed attempts by governments and concerned individuals to build the said bridge, the Builsa South District of the Upper East Region has partnered its sister districts in the Wa West and Sissala East in the Upper West Region to marshal the needed resources to ensure the construction of a temporal drift bridge linking a number of farming communities in the three areas. 

At a stakeholder consultative forum held at Doninga, members of the beneficiary farming communities were tasked to show commitment to the project and contribute in cash and in kind to ensure its smooth execution. The DCE for Builsa South, Mrs Elizabeth Jane Afuic, who made the appeal, charged the people to take ownership of the project by invoking their communal spirit to guarantee its successful completion. 

Radio Ghana’s Correspondent Isaac Asare, who attended the forum reports that the Sisili River is a tributary of the White Volta River that traverses through other neighboring countries including Mali, Ivory Coast, Togo, and Benin. 

The absence of a bridge on the River has obstructed the activities of farmers and traders in the Upper East and Upper West Regions. Occasionally, plenty of food stuffs are lock up at the farm gates to rot as a result of lack of access road to enhance transportation to the market centers. 

This has affected the socio-economic lives of the people as frustrated farmers are compelled to sell their produce at giveaway prices.  

Commuters from the Upper West Region are left with no option than to resort to the Han–Tumu road to get to Bolgatanga, which is a distance of over 200 kilometers. 

The road when completed, will link Doninga in the Builsa South and Santijan in the Sissala East District. The road will link over 80 communities along the southern corridor of the two district. 

The communities in the area are major food producers. This means that the road when completed will open up the area thereby enhancing inter district trade and revenue generation. Also, drudgeries that motorists have to endure in order to access Bolga or Wa by touring Tamale will be a thing of the past. 

Meanwhile, sister districts of Sissala East, Wa west and Builsa South have initiated moves to embark on a self-help project to construct a drift bridge over River Sissili. To this effect, an inter district stakeholders forum  involving relevant stakeholders including DCEs and coordinating directors has taken place at Doninga to brainstorm on the way forward. 

Addressing the gathering, the DCE for Builsa South, Elizabeth Jane Afuic, underscored the importance of the road network and encouraged the people to devote time and resources at their disposal to support the project.

The DCE for Sissala East, Johnson Sarbor, who further underscored the benefit of the project called for close collaboration between the beneficiary sister districts.

Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Assembly member for Doninga Electoral Area, said access road linking the various farming communities will be of immense benefit to his people.

GBC