Residents of Yiwabra and surrounding communities in the Aowin Municipality are in distress following the collapse of an 86-year-old bridge over River Disue, a vital link connecting several towns and villages in both the Western North and Western regions.
The Disue Bridge, which connects Enchi in the Western North Region to Samreboi in the Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region, as well as smaller communities like Domeabra, Ohiamadwen, and Omanpe, caved in recently after years of deterioration and neglect.
The collapse has left hundreds of residents cut off from essential services, threatening education, healthcare access, and agricultural trade.
With the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) just weeks away, local leaders are warning that students may be unable to reach exam centers, thus threaten their academic future.
“This bridge was the only connection to nearby towns. Now, our BECE candidates may not be able to write their exams, and our farmers are stranded with their produce,” said Stephen Kofie, Assembly Member for the Yiwabra Electoral Area, said in an interview with TV3’s Western North Regional Correspondent, Mathew Ahiaveh.
According to residents, repeated complaints about the bridge’s worsening condition yielded no results. Community members say the Member of Parliament for the area Oscar Larbi visited the scene to assess the situation but failed to follow up with concrete action.
“We’ve been raising this alarm for years. Now, the worst has happened. Students, farmers, the sick we’re all stuck,” Kofie lamented.
The economic toll is also growing. Cocoa farmers in the area who rely on the bridge to transport their produce to markets are now facing serious delays and potential losses.
The Chief of Yiwabra, Nana Kwabena, called on the government to act swiftly to restore the bridge, describing the situation as a crisis.
“Cocoa farming is the heartbeat of this community. Without access to markets, our economy suffers. The government must not wait any longer,” he stated.
Another community elder, Nana Ankamah Tano, stressed that the issue goes beyond just transportation.
“This is not just an economic or education issue it’s about access to healthcare, security, and our very way of life. We need urgent intervention,” he said.
The people of Yiwabra and nearby communities remain stranded, using unsafe makeshift paths to access basic services. With no official statement yet from the Authorities or the Aowin Municipal Assembly, residents are intensifying their appeals.
As the BECE approaches and the rainy season looms, the residents fear that the lack of swift action could result in an even greater humanitarian emergency.
