The significance of roads in the progress of every nation is fundamental. They make a crucial contribution to economic development and growth and bring important social benefits by providing access to employment, social, health and education services.

This makes road networks crucial in fighting against poverty yet the rate at which certain towns have been deprived of better roads in Ghana is shattering.

Sokwai, a town in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District in the Ashanti Region is a victim of deprived road after a bridge at its outskirt has bowed from operation.

Concerned Youth of the suburb on Thursday, May 14 expressed dissatisfaction over their leaders’ failure to have the span restored until an unforeseen disaster occurs.

According to the Youth and resident, the level of the bridge damage will soon slow down transportation within the Assembly due to the vulnerability of the bridge. They made known that drivers who ply on the road during a heavy downpour wait at the side of the road for flooded water to settle before carrying on with their normal routine.

Explaining the details as to whether leaders have taken any approach to get the bridge erected, Kwadwo Patrick asserted that the road was handed to a contractor but he rather focused on getting the highway done instead of making the safety of the bridge a fundamental part of the construction.

‘I very well believe the government gave the road to be put up by a contractor when the damage started. I consulted the engineer and confessed on the need to rapidly build the bridge before working on the road in view of the fact that flooding easily befalls and averts the schedule of drivers and pedestrians,” Kwadwo Patrick said.

READ ALSO:

Tema Motorway Interchange Set to Open to Traffic on Saturday

When SoireeNews got to the location at Sokwai, the bridge had been washed away by erosion allowing a portion for mini vehicles to drive through although the danger of a total collapse is imminent. Some residents made known that the Assembly member is doing his best to reach out to the Municipal District Chief executive (MCE) and the Member of Parliament to get the challenge resolved yet others denied the commitment of the government officials and blamed them for snubbing the needs of occupants.

“The contractor refused to work on the bridge until the shattering expanded due to the recent downpour of rains. No big car can cross this bridge - Taxi drivers depends on enough experience else transport would have been a major challenge for us.

“When we consulted the Assembly member, he assured of communicating with the MCE and the MP to have the problem resolved but I doubt it because the setback has been there for some time now and none have provided any answers,” Patrick added.

Madam Madina Adamu spoke on the detrimental factors likely to occur should leaders fail to repair the bridge. She averred that flood is easily created when the rain cease to locate its waterway, which turn out to be threatening to the life of children and the old in view of the fact that they can easily get drown. Madam Adamu pleaded to government to come to the aid of the community and resolve the challenge to prevent any future misfortune.

“The contractor should have worked extensively on the bridge. He refused and focused on the road. The broken bridge prevents the waters from draining and creates a flood. It therefore becomes threatening to the lives of children and the old. We are pleading to the government to come to our aid,” she said.