The people of Vea in the Bongo District have commissioned a newly constructed spillway bridge, bringing long-awaited relief to the community after more than 50 years of relying on dangerous crossings during the rainy season.
The bridge, commissioned on November 1, 2025, is a community-driven development led by the Vea Homecoming Initiative and the Vea Spillway Bridge Project Committee, chaired by Michael Anaabugre Akonea. It was fully financed and constructed through the collective efforts of residents, who raised funds and provided labour following decades of unsuccessful appeals to the government for a permanent solution.
Before its construction, residents of Vea and surrounding communities were forced to swim or use canoes to cross the dam spillway whenever it overflowed, a situation that exposed both adults and children to life-threatening risks. For many years, this danger hindered access to basic services, including schools, healthcare facilities, and markets.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Naba Thomas Azubire II expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people of Vea for their commitment to improving their community.
He singled out Mr. Abubakari Sadick Dwira, also known as Atanga, for his major contribution in funding construction materials for the project. Bongo District Chief Executive, Hon. Joseph Akasake Abaah, commended residents for their resilience, unity, and determination to pursue development despite long delays in receiving external support. He encouraged them to continue cooperating with government in addressing future needs.
Sharing the inspiration behind the project, Abubakari Dwira, a native of Vea now living in the United States, recalled his first experience at the spillway at the age of twelve. During that visit, he and his father were forced to cross the spillway by canoe. When he asked his father what would happen if the canoe capsized, he received the frightening response that unless one could swim, they would drown. He said the experience deeply troubled him, especially as he did not know how to swim.
The fear stayed with him for years, and every time he returned to Vea, he remembered the danger that could easily claim lives. As an adult, he travelled to Tanzania and saw a similar irrigation system with a proper spillway bridge. The sight reminded him of the dangerous situation in Vea and strengthened his resolve to help fix the problem. He later engaged the leadership of the Vea Homecoming group, who supported his vision and worked toward the construction of the bridge now standing.
Assembly Member for Vea, Wilbert Apu-Usum, described the commissioning as a historic moment for the community and surrounding areas, noting that residents had endured more than six decades of struggle and fear along the spillway. He said the success of the project demonstrated the courage, unity, and spirit of the people of Vea, adding that the commissioning symbolised the community’s independence since 1968. The Queen Mother of Vea, Amoah Bright, also expressed her appreciation to all who supported the initiative. She noted that the project would bring immense relief to schoolchildren, health workers, teachers, traders, and farmers who had long used the spillway route in fear.
During the event, community members and leaders appealed to the Upper East Regional Minister to consider upgrading the road from Gowrie through the bridge to Zorko, explaining that the full benefits of the bridge would only be realised if the route became more motorable. They also requested the installation of streetlights along the same stretch to improve safety and security, especially for commuters at night.
The Vea spillway bridge is already being described as a significant regional asset that will enhance transportation, trade, education, and access to healthcare while strengthening social and economic ties across neighbouring communities. It represents a powerful example of what collective will and community action can achieve, even in the face of longstanding government inaction.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Moses Anaba Azubire|Vea
