Veteran journalist, Kwame Sefa Kayi and psychologist Prof Joseph Osafo, have expressed shock to news regarding the theft of bolts holding the corrugated metals in the Motorway tunnel that connects Tema Community 18 to Borteyman.
According to reports, about 1,400 of the 2,000 bolts holding the bridge to the motorway concrete have been stolen.
This unfortunate act was discovered recently following an assessment by the Ghana Highway Authority on the bridge which showed signs of imminent danger.
Reacting to this on Peace FM’s Kokrookoo show, the host, Kwame Sefa Kayi, seemed puzzled, struggling to comprehend the rationale behind an action that could have led to the death of many lives.
“You just can’t comprehend this. People have stolen 1,400 bolts. They have been stolen. So we could be there one day and this tunnel just collapses. So someone could be buried under debris when this happens. This is the kind of country we live in. You just can’t understand why this is happening,” he said.
On the matter, Prof Joseph Osafo, noted that followers in recent times, have proven to rebel against the ideas of a leader who seeks to bring about development.
“We are really legends. Most often, reports blame leaders for not doing well, but now the issue of followership has surfaced. You can be the best leader, but if the followers don’t want you to succeed, they will make sure you don’t,” he said.
The missing bolts are said to have compromised the structural integrity of the bridge, making it susceptible to collapse if not repaired immediately.
The collapse of the bridge could have divided the motorway into two, cutting off Accra from Tema, according to the Principal Engineer at the Bridge Division of the Ghana Highway Authority , Aaron Nana Amponsah.
As such workers from the Bridge Maintenance Unit of the Ghana Highway Authority last Saturday, September 9, began replacing the stolen bolts to prevent a catastrophe.
The tunnel was closed to traffic to allow the workers to carry out the initiative without any disruption.