It was a joyful moment among residents of Kotokuom and other adjoining communities last Tuesday when the reconstructed bridge over the Offin River at Kotokuom in the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region was officially opened to traffic.
The hundreds of residents who besieged the event grounds could not hide their joy and applauded the government for redeeming its promise to reconstruct the bridge when its dilapidated state went viral on social media.
“In fact, we are very delighted that the government has come to our aid and constructed a new bridge to bring to an end our many years of suffering,” some of them said.
One of the residents, Kwame Marfo, said: "I am very happy that our years of struggle have come to an end with the construction of the bridge. Now we can transport farm produce with ease".
Poor state
The deteriorating bridge, originally constructed in 1957 and showing signs of structural weakness that posed a danger to users, was brought to public attention earlier this year by an activist on social media.
The newly constructed bridge
Several portions of the bridge, for about eight years, showed distress, including pillars that had all developed cracks, thereby becoming a death trap.
Hitherto, the residents had improvised and used wooden panels to patch portions that had developed holes and that had been their plight for some years until the intervention.
Anytime a loaded vehicle got to the bridge, the residents were left with no option but to unload the items and, in some instances, unload passengers, to help reduce the load before the vehicle crossed to the other side of the road and then reboard the vehicles to their destinations.
Caught attention
After news of the bridge’s deplorable state went viral on social media, it caught the attention of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, who promised to take the necessary steps to fix the bridge to bring relief to the people.
Following the assurance, he accompanied the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, to inspect the bridge in March this year.
After the inspection, the team declared the facility, which was built in the 1950s by Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, unmotorable, as the metals that held the bridge were all rusty as well.
Mr Agbodza told the residents that contractors would immediately be on site to reconstruct the damaged bridge to ease transportation on that stretch of the road.
Fulfilment of promise
Speaking at the event to open the bridge at the Kotokuom R/C School Park, the Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, said the inauguration of the bridge was to celebrate safety, the renewal of hope and the fulfilment of a promise made to the people.
He said the distressing images and videos of the bridge that circulated on social media were the stark reality and an urgent call to action, saying, “These were not clips for the screens, but they were genuine cries of a community in need of support”.
He acknowledged the courage of the citizens who brought the distressing state of the bridge to light and added that their voices were heard, as it reminded the government that governance was not a distant activity but a response partnership with the people.
He added that the reconstruction of the bridge formed part of the government’s Big Push agenda aimed at massive construction in roads and bridges and a broader vision to ensure that no community was left behind.
Assurance
For his part, Dr Amoakohene lauded the residents for using an alternative road to expedite the project’s completion and urged them to safeguard the bridge at all times.
He assured the community members that the government would improve other deplorable road networks within the district to ease transportation and enable farmers to cart their goods to market centres for sale.
In a welcome address, the Chief Executive for Atwima Mponua District, Ibrahim Issahak, said farmers and cocoa sector operators, petty traders and the sick were worst hit by the broken bridge, as no heavy-duty vehicles carrying loads were allowed to use the bridge.
He indicated that the new bridge would significantly enhance connectivity, facilitate trade and improve access to social services, stressing that it would also boost economic activities and open up new opportunities for the communities beyond the Offin River.
While commending the ministers for their immense contributions towards the construction of the bridge, he urged the residents to take full ownership of the bridge and ensure its regular maintenance so that it lasts longer.
Writer’s email: gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh
