The 2024 Auditor-General’s Report has flagged what appears to be a troubling case of public funds disbursed for an unfinished bridge project in Moyamba District, with NLe1,434,510.29 already paid out for works auditors say remain incomplete.
The contract, awarded to JSC Trading and Construction SL Limited, was for the construction of a 10-metre span bridge and two single box culverts along the Kpangbama–Rotawa route in Fakunya Chiefdom. Originally valued at NLe1, 585,511.37, the project was later revised to NLe1, 952,708.10 following additional works. Completion had been scheduled for December 2024.
According to the Auditor-General, while the two culverts were completed, the main bridge was not finished at the time of inspection, despite nearly three-quarters of the revised contract sum having already been paid. The report describes the situation as a serious lapse in oversight and accountability.
For residents of Fakunya Chiefdom, the delay is more than a contractual dispute. Farmers, traders, schoolchildren and motorists continue to struggle with access, particularly during the rainy season when alternative routes become nearly impassable.
However, the Roads Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA) has pushed back against the audit findings, offering an official explanation for the delay.
In its response, the RMFA stated that the two single box culverts were completed and that the 10-metre span bridge was near completion when community members raised concerns about the height of the concrete deck, prompting a halt to construction.
The agency said several consultations were subsequently held with the Council and local authorities, including a joint site inspection. Following discussions, it was agreed that the concrete beam and deck slab provisions would be demolished and raised to a higher level.
According to the RMFA, a variation request amounting to NLe367, 196.73 was approved to accommodate the additional work required to increase the bridge height. The contractor has since resumed work, and construction is reportedly ongoing.
Despite this explanation, the Auditor-General maintains that during onsite verification, there was no evidence that the 10-metre span bridge had been completed. As such, the issue remains unresolved in the official audit record.
Civil society organisations have called for closer scrutiny of the project, while residents remain hopeful that the long-promised bridge now widely referred to as the “Ghost Bridge” will finally connect their communities as intended.