Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi AmoakoAttah has directed the immediate closure of two bridges crucial to economic activity between northern Ghana and the rest of the country.

Engineers say the Buipe and Yapei bridges are so weak they could collapse anytime.

Following a routine inspection on Wednesday, the Roads Minister said repair works must not delay any further, justifying the closure of the major bridges.

The closure of the bridges means that hundreds of heavy-duty articulated vehicles that cart foodstuffs from Burkina Faso and the northern parts of Ghana to the south and other parts of the country will temporarily be unable to do so.

The bridges were constructed many years ago but have received minor maintenance works.

The reconstruction project is estimated to cost about $75 million.

The Finance Minister in the 2018 budget statement also revealed that government has earmarked some bridges to be reconstructed.

Apart from the Buipe and Yapei bridges, the Daboya Bridge, Nawumi Bridge, Yapei Bridge, Buipe Bridge, Lawra- Dikpe bridge, Prima-Misio Bridge have also been earmarked for reconstruction.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for the Yapei-Kusawgu Constituency, John Abdulai Jinapor, has suggested that the closure should be done in phases.

The MP acknowledged that there is an urgent need for the bridges to be repaired, but to do them simultaneously will inconvenience the people and create hardship.