We are dying, Fix our broken down bridge now to prevent more deaths – Abuakwa-Dadease residents wail
Residents of Abuakwa-Dadease in the Atwima Nwabiagya South of Ashanti Region have called on government to fix their broken bridge as the rains set in.
Joseph Marfo 
Ahead of the rainy season, residents of Abuakwa-Dadease in the Atwima Nwabiagya South of Ashanti Region have called on government to fix their broken bridge as the rains set in.
The residents say each year, some persons drown as a result of the broken bridge when it rains.
Akua Afriyie, a resident in the area recounted how her brother drowned and died last year when it rained heavily. This was after he had attempted to cross the bridge to the house.
“We have another house at Abuakwa so he decided to move from there to pass the night here. When he got to the bridge after it had flooded the area, the people around even asked him to go back, but he refused. When he decided to cross, his sandals got stuck in the water. In an attempt to take it, it dragged him all the way to another bridge at the other end”.
Thomas Afranie also recounted how he narrowly escaped death after he drowned and got stuck in the drain for over three hours.
“I went to work and upon returning, I noticed that the area had been flooded. I was told that some people are able to cross when it rains, so we decided to cross. We were four, so we held our hands together and then attempted to cross, but we were unsuccessful. Two were able to hold on to a car that had broken down while the water dragged two of us into the drain. As of 9:30 pm, I was still inside the drain. The next Tuesday, someone too got drowned. He was called Awillo. I really went through a lot when I got drowned. After I was eventually saved, my family spent a lot on me in order to be able to take care of my hospital expenses. My stomach was swollen for some time”.
The residents told the press that even cars have not been spared as some cars with passengers have been carried away in some instances.
For commuters who use this stretch on a regular basis, their biggest nightmare is the state of the bridge, which is the only avenue for them to be connected to neighbouring communities.
However, they have called on authorities to as a matter of urgency fix the broken bridge to ensure that no life is lost this year.
Source: CNR
