Kaneshie footbridge repairs delayed by GARID project – Accra Mayor, Michael Kpakpo Allotey

The Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has attributed the delay in rehabilitating the Kaneshie Market footbridges to ongoing works under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project.

Allotey explained that the footbridges are directly linked to the broader GARID drainage project, making it impractical for the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to undertake rehabilitation works until the related construction activities are completed.

According to him, the GARID project team is expected to close one side of the road to facilitate drainage works, with the stretch from Mallam towards Kaneshie serving as the alternative route during the construction period.

The Accra Mayor said engagements with the GARID project team indicate that some of the challenges affecting the project have been resolved, paving the way for work to progress.

He noted that the Assembly cannot proceed with repairs on the footbridges only for them to be affected by the ongoing drainage works, as that would result in unnecessary additional costs.

“Right now, we are just waiting for the GARID workers to finish for us to work on ours,” Allotey said.

Meanwhile, he assured commuters that the Assembly has put in place measures to improve pedestrian safety while the rehabilitation is delayed.

Traffic control personnel, he added will continue to be deployed daily, including Sundays, at the footbridge locations to assist pedestrians in crossing the road safely until work on the structures begins.