Broken bridge over Adibordor Stream threatens safety of community

Acollapsed footbridge at 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, the only means of crossing the ‘Adibordor’ stream, has been in a state of disrepair for years, causing immense hardship for the people of the Torgodo, Arzah and Adibordornya communities.

The communities, which are predominantly farming, rely heavily on the bridge to transport their cocoa and other crops to market, access healthcare services and attend school.

Disruption to daily life

The Assembly Member for the Abrewanko electoral area, Sampson Tettey, 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.”

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), he said the situation was so dire that a class four pupil crossing from school fell into the stream and died in 2023.

The assemblymember said the incident had heightened fears among parents and residents, who were now living in constant fear of another tragedy.

Mr Tettey pleaded with the government and the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly to urgently help them secure a concrete bridge to save lives.

“The situation is dangerous and we cannot afford to wait any longer,” he emphasised.

“Children are forced to travel long distances through other dangerous routes to reach classrooms, placing their safety and education at risk,” he said and added that the collapsed bridge had led to post-harvest losses, as farmers struggle to cross the streams with their farm produce to the market.

Mr Tettey said cocoa buyers were also recording losses and facing difficulties reaching out to farmers, which was negatively affecting people's livelihoods and heightening frustration.

“The situation is affecting the entire socio-economic well-being of residents in the area,” Mr Tettey said.

The Dadematse (Sub-Chief) of the area, Nene Seth Tettey, echoed the assembly member’s concerns, saying the collapsed bridge was affecting all aspects of daily life, including education, trade and access to healthcare.

“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 was urgent and the people were desperate for a solution. - GNA