DEBRIS ALONG SUNTRE RIVER IS TEMPORARY — ENGINEER (PAGE 32)

Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

THE Kumasi Metropolitan Engineer of the Department of Urban Roads, Mr James Amoo-Gottfried, has said that soil and foreign materials that have found their way close to the Suntre River in Kumasi as a result of the construction of the Sofoline Interchange are not going to be there permanently.
There have been concerns in some quarters over the way the Chinese construction firm, China Gio, which is undertaking the project has been dumping top soil from the project site.
Besides, people complain about the felling of trees within the wetlands at Sofoline.
However, Mr Amoo-Gottfried explained in an interview with the Daily Graphic that the situation had resulted from the extension and expansion of culverts for the project.
He said people should appreciate the huge nature of the interchange, which is part of the construction of the Komfo Anokye Roundabout–Abuakwa Road, and bear with the contractors.
He gave the assurance that the contractors would, at the appropriate time, move to open up the river to redirect its flow.
The Assembly Member for Suntreso, Mr Osei Gyamfi Afriyie, told the Daily Graphic that it would be appropriate for the contractor to adopt measures that would protect the river, instead of those that threatened its existence.
He admitted that the interchange was a big project but said that should not be an excuse to destroy the river.
Mr Afriyie noted that the cutting of the trees had exposed the river to the sun’s rays and that could lead to its drying up.
Meanwhile, the demolition of buildings along the road to pave the way for the construction of the dual carriageway is ongoing, while the government has started paying compensation to the affected property owners.