Awuro Camp communities appeal for bridges

More than 13 communities at Awuro Camp Electoral Area in the Central Region, have made an appeal to government to rehabilitate the dilapidated bridges and reshape their roads.

They made the appeal when opinion leaders and some community members led newsmen to inspect portions of the bad road and the dilapidated bridges on the Obou and Obosomfo Rivers.

The residents earlier organized communal labour and cleared weeds along the roads, desilted choked gutters, and filled potholes.

Nene Samuel Kwasi Donkor, Odikro (Sub-chief) of Akwateykrom in the Assin South District, told the Ghana News Agency that the defective bridges link the communities to neighbouring districts and the district capital, Assin Fosu.

He listed the communities as Akwateykrom, Obosomfo, Obou, Assin Ningo, Jakain, Krokoso, Jerusalem, Kramokrom, Awuroso Junction, Sergeant, Nyamebekyere and Janese.

Nene Donkor said the community members are fed up with politicians who visit these communities during elections to give vain promises.

“Bridges are of strategic significance and that even elsewhere, wars and battles have been fought over bridges,” he noted.

According to him, the feeble wooden bridges had turned into death traps, and heavy weight trucks could no longer evacuate cocoa, charcoal and foodstuff to marketing centres.

Other vehicles carrying passengers across the bridges also encounter difficulties.

The Odikro stated: “We prefer bailey bridges to the wooden type since down pours wash the bridges away; the roads are equally bad, very narrow for two vehicular lanes usage, undulating, slippery during rainy season and dusty during dry season.

“Fixing the two bridges on the Obou and Obosomfo Rivers on time, would help to restore social life and commercial activities in the communities to better our lot.”

Mr. Robert Kwadwo, Assembly Member, said the Awuro Camp is the largest in the Assin South District, but it had been neglected for far too long.

“We have no meaningful social amenities, we need potable water, schools, markets, clinics public toilets, community centres, good roads and electrification.”

Mr Narh Korley, a prominent cocoa purchasing clerk, complained about the wanton destruction of cocoa farms by elephants and urged officials of the Game and Wild Life to help reverse the situation.