Atwima Behenease residents appeal for urgent repairs to deteriorating Abɔgyesɛ Bridge

Residents of Atwima Behenease, a community in the Atwima Kwanwoma Municipality of the Ashanti Region, have appealed to the government to intervene and rehabilitate the critically damaged Abɔgyesɛ River Bridge.

The bridge is on the verge of collapse, having come under strain from recent heavy rains. For more than five months, residents have endured hardship following the partial collapse of the bridge linking Behenease and Boko.

This has left residents worried and stranded, as transportation to access essential services has been disrupted.

The bridge serves as a crucial link for surrounding communities, including Atwima Boko, Twedie, Trabuom and Nkawie, facilitating the movement of people and goods.

Schoolchildren are among the worst affected, with some forced to stay at home whenever it rains because water overflows the collapsed bridge, preventing them from crossing to school.

Speaking on the Ghanakoma morning show on Akoma 87.9 FM with Sir John in Kumasi on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Queen Mother of Atwima Behenease, Nana Akoma Doma Tipa, revealed that the bridge has been severely damaged by heavy rains, with both sides washed away, leaving only a narrow passage for vehicles and pedestrians.

She made an urgent plea to the government to intervene and repair the bridge, which is critical for Atwima Behenease and surrounding communities.

"The condition of the bridge is extremely hazardous, and we're calling on the authorities to take immediate action, rather than waiting for disaster to strike," she stated.

She shed light on the appalling condition of the road, stating that it is in a really bad shape.

"The entire road is in a terrible state, so if they can't manage to fix it all, the least they could do is repair the bridge, which is a major concern for us," the Queen Mother noted.

She stated that the bridge has been in a state of disrepair for the past five months. She said the community, led by the Queen Mother and elders, has reached out to the relevant authorities, including the DCE, MP and Feeder Roads, but no action has been taken to fix the bridge.

"Just two weeks ago, two cars, one of which was carrying students, nearly crashed on the bridge. It was only God's intervention that prevented the accident from happening; otherwise, we might have lost lives.

"Every time we approach the authorities, they assure us that plans are underway to fix the bridge, but it seems like they're just paying lip service. It's frustrating because it feels like they are waiting for a disaster to happen before taking real action."