Cape Coast, May 14, GNA - The wings supporting the culvert on the Fosu Lagoon caved in on Thursday night, making it impossible for vehicles to use the main Cape Coast District Hospital. The lagoon had over flown its banks over the weekend, flooding some shops at Siwdu, a suburb of Cape Coast and some residences at OLA. The victims pressurized the Oguaa Traditional Council to have the entrance of the lagoon desilted for the water to flow into the sea and it was done.

Eye witnesses the GNA spoke to said the force of the excess water from the lagoon into the sea was so great that the side wings of the culvert cracked while part of the street at the left side of the culvert caved in, damaging a pipeline that serves part of the Metropolis. At the moment commuters to OLA and St Augustine's will have to alight at the "Bakaano" side of the road and walk over to join another vehicle at the far end of the culvert to continue their journey. Residents were seen in the morning searching for water due to the cut in water supply to the area.

Mr Eric Amoah, the Cape Coast Metropolitan Engineer of the Department of Urban Roads, said the force of the water from the lagoon damaged wing walls. He said the culvert on the Fosu Lagoon was built about four-and-a-half years ago to replace a weak one and that the contractor detached the wing walls and aprons from the main culvert to provide adequate footing.

Mr Amoah said the main culvert was intact and that it was the wing walls that were broken. He said the department had contacted the Director of Bridges to assess the situation and to give directions for its repairs as a short term measure and suggested that the culvert be replaced by a bridge in future.

Residents have expressed concern over the rampant damage of the culvert and called for a lasting solution. Madam Ama Benyiwa-Doe, the Regional Minister, has visited the area and appealed to the Department of Urban Roads to repair the damage.