Three weeks after a bridge linking Kongo to neighbouring communities collapsed, residents of Kongo in the Tempane District of the Upper East Region are demanding urgent government intervention, saying the situation has severely disrupted access to healthcare, education, farming activities and other essential services.
The renewed calls come after the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Atanga Akamugri, inspected the collapsed bridge and assured residents that the matter would be addressed. However, residents say no reconstruction work has begun.
Speaking to A1 Radio, a resident, Mohammed Abilla Nongma, described the bridge as the community’s only major access route to Garu, Tempane, Bawku, Binduri and other neighbouring communities. He said whenever it rains and the river fills up, residents are unable to cross, making it difficult to access healthcare, education, markets and other essential services.
“This is the only road that we use to access our district centres, Garu, Tempane, Bawku, Binduri and so on. Kongo does not have a health centre, and our children also use this road to attend school. So, when this bridge collapsed, we started suffering.”
Mr. Nongma alleged that the collapse of the bridge has contributed to two deaths, including that of a sick man who could not be transported to the Basyonde Health Centre after attempts to cross the river failed.
“One man was sick, and they were taking him to the Basyonde Health Centre. But when they reached the bridge, they found it had collapsed and could not cross the river. They were forced to return to Kongo, where he later died.”
He further stated that the bridge has collapsed on three occasions, adding that previous temporary interventions had failed to provide a lasting solution.
The Assembly Member for the area, Yakubu Fatawu Moni, said he had repeatedly engaged the relevant authorities over the deteriorating condition of the bridge. According to him, the Tempane District Chief Executive, Joseph Mbilla Ayaaba, indicated that a temporary structure would be put in place to restore movement while arrangements were being made for the construction of a permanent bridge.
Mr. Moni, however, maintained that temporary measures would not solve the problem, insisting that only the complete reconstruction of the bridge would provide a lasting solution for the community.
“Unless they build and construct a new bridge for us, there is no other option.”
Residents are therefore calling on the government and other relevant stakeholders to urgently reconstruct the bridge to restore safe movement and improve access to healthcare, education, farming activities and other essential services for Kongo and neighbouring communities.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Simon Ayamdoo|Kongo
