The Assembly Member for the Sumbrungu Azorebisi Electoral Area, Dr. Elias Ayinbila Apasiya, says children and other residents had drowned while attempting to cross the stream separating Azorebisi and Amogrebisi before the construction of a GH¢65,000 footbridge.
The bridge, constructed by the Free Methodist Church with support from the community and other stakeholders, was commissioned on Friday, July 31, 2026, to provide safer movement between the two communities in the Bolgatanga Municipality.
Speaking to the media at the commissioning ceremony, Dr. Apasiya said residents had faced difficulties crossing the stream for years, with the situation becoming particularly dangerous during the rainy season.
“Now, before it was constructed, the people between this community used to have a lot of challenges, especially the rainy season. Sometimes children, among other people, get drowned in their attempt to cross from Azorebisi to Amogrebisi or to Sumbrungu main town, and so it was very bad and challenging,” he stated.
The bridge was named “Unity Bridge” by the General Superintendent of the Free Methodist Church, Rev. Dr. Ahmed Kenneth Quarshie.
Dr. Apasiya said the name reflects the collaboration among the church, residents and other stakeholders that made the project possible.
“Today, the 31st of July 2026, we have commissioned a footbridge between Sumbrungu Azorebisi and Amogrebisi and that bridge has been named by the Bishop of the Free Methodist Church as a ‘Unity Bridge’. Unity Bridge because this is a bridge that has brought a lot of people together in diverse ways,” he said.
According to the Assembly Member, the project took about three years to complete and will allow residents to cross the stream with motorbikes and tricycles.
“God being so good, the Free Methodist Church, in conjunction with the community and other stakeholders… construct this unity footbridge, which will serve as a medium for people to cross to and from with either motorbikes or the tricycle,” he said.
Dr. Apasiya said the bridge would particularly benefit nurses, teachers, traders and other residents who regularly travel between Azorebisi, Amogrebisi and Sumbrungu.
“It will help us in crossing between Sumbrungu Azorebisi and Amogrebisi and then Sumbrungu and to the main town. So nurses, teachers, business operators can now use such a footbridge to move to and fro to carry out their daily work or activities,” he said.
“And so this, I think, has come to help us a lot, and the community appreciates the efforts and help that came from the Free Methodist Church.”
The bridge is also expected to improve access to the Amogrebisi clinic, schools and markets for residents of Azorebisi, Amogrebisi and surrounding communities.
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