The Minister of Roads & Highways Hon. Amin Amidu Sulemani, on Friday, as part of his working visit to the Ashanti Region, commissioned a seventy-meter footbridge in the central part of Kumasi- Adum. The footbridge was awarded to a Ghanaian contractor M/S High Brains in August, 2009, at a contract value of Ghc2, 229, 189.14.

Commissioning the project, Hon. Amin said the footbridge will be of immense benefit in terms of pedestrian safety and a boost to economic activities between Kejetia and Adum, which is the heart of trading center in the capital of Ashanti. The Minister said Government noted with concern the heavy congestion of trading activities and pedestrian movement within the restricted route connecting the two trading centers, Guggisberg Road in Adum and the Fuller road in Kejetia, which often increases the walking time in accessing the two centers. This he said necessitated the construction of the facility.

In a bid to enhance pedestrian mobility and safety as traders cross the railway to and from their trading areas, the Government of Ghana provided the funding through the Minister of Roads & Highways, and its sector agencies to undertake the construction of a pedestrian footbridge under the Asafo Market UTC roundabout interchange in the Kumasi metropolitan area.

Hon. Amin Amidu also indicated that plans are advanced for a similar facility to be constructed at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Junction, expected to ensure the safety of pedestrians in that area.

Hon. Amin commended the contractor for executing the project to specification, and the additional attachment such as places of convenience at both ends of the footbridge, and the provision for people with disability to have access to its usage. He, however, urged that the footbridge should not be used for hawking and vending.

"A good maintenance of the facility will ensure a long life span," he said.