Residents of Atwima Behenease, a community in the Atwima Kwanwoma Municipality of Ashanti Region, are pleading with the government to intervene and rehabilitate the critically damaged “Abɔgyesɛ” River Bridge.
The bridge is on the edge of a disaster, coming under the strain of the recent heavy rains.
This has left residents worried and stranded, as transportation to access essential services has halted.
The bridge serves as a crucial link for surrounding communities, including Atwima Boko, Twedie, Trabuom, and Nkawie, facilitating the movement of people and goods.
A visit to the bridge revealed that it has been severely damaged by heavy rains, with both sides washed away, leaving only a narrow passage for vehicles and pedestrians.
Afia Akyaa, a resident, made an urgent plea to the government to intervene and repair the bridge, which is critical for Atwima Behenease and surrounding communities.
“The condition of the bridge is extremely hazardous, and we’re calling on the authorities to take immediate action, rather than waiting for disaster to strike,” she said.
Kwadwo Mensah, another resident, shed light on the appalling condition of the road, stating that it’s in a really bad shape.
“The entire road is in a terrible state, so if they can’t manage to fix it all, the least they could do is repair the bridge, which is a major concern for us”.
Kwaku Antwi, a former unit committee chairman for Akyeremade-Kwanwoma Electoral Area, stated that the bridge has been in a state of disrepair for 8 months now.
He said the community, led by the queen mother and elders, has reached out to the relevant authorities, including the DCE, MP, and Feeder Roads, but no action has been taken to fix the bridge.
“Just two weeks ago, two cars, one of which was carrying students, nearly crashed on the bridge. It was only God’s intervention that prevented the accident from happening, otherwise, we might have lost lives.
“Every time we approach the authorities, they assure us that plans are underway to fix the bridge, but it seems like they’re just paying lip service. It’s frustrating because it feels like they are waiting for a disaster to happen before taking real action, then they’ll probably show up with condolences and promises of help. Meanwhile, we’re the ones living with the risk every day,” he lamented.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com