A collapsed footbridge in Adibordornya, a community in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region, has left pupils, farmers, and residents in a state of desperation, pleading for urgent government intervention to avert a looming disaster.
The footbridge, which serves as the only means of crossing the ‘Adibordor’ stream, has been in a state of disrepair for years, causing immense hardship for the people of Torgodo, Arzah, and Adibordornya communities.
The communities, which are predominantly farming communities, rely heavily on the bridge to transport their cocoa and other crops to the market, access healthcare services, and attend school.
Mr. Sampson Tettey, the Assembly Member for the Abrewanko electoral area, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said the collapsed bridge had cut off the communities from essential services and economic opportunities, causing disruptions to daily life and works of the people adding that, “Children cannot cross to school, farmers cannot go to their farms, and market women cannot go to markets anytime it rains.”
He stated that the situation was so dire that a class four pupil crossing from school fell into the stream and died in 2023.
The Assemblyman said the incident had heightened fears among parents and residents, who were now living in constant fear of another possible tragedy.
Mr Tettey pleaded with the government and the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly to urgently help them get a concrete bridge to save the lives of the people.
“The situation is more dangerous, and we cannot afford to wait any longer,” he emphasised.
The Assembly Member explained that the collapsed bridge had led to post-harvest losses, as farmers struggle to cross the streams with their farm produce to the market.
Children are forced to travel long distances through other dangerous routes to reach classrooms, placing their safety and education at risk, he said.
Mr Tettey said cocoa buyers were also recording losses and facing difficulties reaching out to farmers, which was negatively affecting the livelihoods of the people and heightening frustrations.
“The situation is affecting the entire socio-economic well-being of residents in the area,” Mr Tettey said.
Nene Tettey Seth, the Dadematse (Sub-Chief) of the area, echoed the Assembly Member’s concerns, saying the collapsed bridge was affecting all aspects of daily life, from education, trade, and healthcare access.
“We are pleading with the government and our Member of Parliament, Albert Nyakotey, to intervene and restore hope to our people, particularly children,” he said.
A class five student, Narh, appealed to President John Mahama to help them with a bridge, saying they were counting on the government to come to their rescue and provide a concrete bridge to replace the collapsed one, as the situation is urgent, and the people were desperate for a solution.
Source: GNA
