Residents of Koforidua Nyamekrom a suburb of New Juaben South in the Eastern region are stranded Friday morning following the collapse of a makeshift wooden bridge.
The resident could not drive to cross to work hence had to use a long winding alternate route to get to Koforidua Township. Students and other residents on foot are risking their lives with other options.
The makeshift bridge was constructed in October 2021 after the main bridge was washed away during a downpour.
Reconstruction of the collapsed bridge commenced in October last year but with very slow progress contrary to the promise by New Juaben South MP Michael Okyere Baafi to be completed within 6 months.
The bridge was awarded to contract under the certificate of urgency by the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
According to the Member of Parliament for New Juaben South, Michael Okyere Baafi, the bridge was to be completed within six (6) weeks but is currently almost at 70% completion stage.
Nyamekrom a suburb of New Juaben South Municipality in the Eastern Region was hit by a devastating flood causing river Kwakwanua to overflow its bank after a heavy downpour on Friday, October 22, 2021, collapsed and washed away a culvert and portion of the road cutting off the entire community.
In other to restore normalcy, residents on Sunday mobilized to construct a wooden footbridge to aid crossing by students, teachers, nurses, workers, and traders from Monday.
According to Assembly Member Enock Boahene, the flood situation was a threat to lives and properties hence needs urgent Central government intervention.
He said the floods submerged about 30 homes and caused damage to many household properties.
Some residents who were trapped were rescued to safety hence no casualty was recorded.
The youth of Nyamekrom were seething with anger out of frustration.
They threatened to embark on a massive demonstration to demand development in the area.
Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia cut sod on October 27, 2020, for the construction of the 10.1 kilometers Koforidua-Nyamekrom-Supiriso Road in the New Juaben South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
But construction work has always been abandoned.
Residents believe, if the bridge is reconstructed and widened as part of the road project, and the river dredged the flood situation will be mitigated.
Many parts of New Juaben South Municipality continue to experience flooding whenever it rains despite a Ghc16 million cedis Nsukwao Basin Drainage facility recently constructed to mitigate the impact of the flood.
But due to shoddy work, the drainage has not served its purpose.
A ten (10) year old class three pupils carried away by the floodwaters on Tuesday is yet to be found.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
