The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako Attah interacting with the Buipe bridge project manager at Buipe
Some passengers have complained about drivers plying the Accra-Tamale Road, who charge exorbitant fares and drop them at Buipe instead of Tamale due to the repair of the Buipe Bridge.
Some drivers, who use alternative routes to the Northern Regional capital also charge extra monies.
Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, a passenger, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said “I boarded a bus from Kumasi with the hope of getting to Tamale only for the driver to stop at Buipe to tell us that he was not going any further.
“All attempts to collect the change from the driver proved futile, as he insisted he was not going to give them to us.”
The angry passengers said he had to board another bus from Buipe to Tamale at a cost of GH¢9.00.
The journey, which is supposed to last for six hours, takes almost eight hours now.
DAILY GUIDE gathered that the Buipe Bridge was constructed about 52 years ago.
Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) has announced the closure of the Buipe Bridge to enable repair works to be carried out.
It also indicated that the bridge would be closed from 2:00pm to 6:00am and only vehicles weighing up to 20 tonnes would be allowed to cross the bridge between 6:00am to 2:00pm each day during the period.
It has consequently advised motorists travelling to and from the Northern Region to use alternative routes: North bound (travelling from the south towards Tamale) Kumasi – Techiman – Wenchi – Sawla – Fufulso Junction – Tamale, while South bound (travelling from Tamale towards the south) Tamale – Fufulso Junction – Sawla – Wenchi – Techiman.
From Eric Kombat, Buipe