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River Kukubu bridge collapse isolates Atwima Mponua communities
•2 min read•1 source
Residents of the Abesua Electoral Area in the Atwima Mponua District are facing a humanitarian and economic crisis following the collapse of a critical bridge over the River Kukubu. The failure of the infrastructure is being blamed on intensive illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey, which have significantly degraded the riverbanks and the bridge's foundation. This collapse has effectively isolated several communities, leaving residents without safe passage to essential services and neighboring markets.
The destruction of the bridge has brought local trading activities to a complete standstill. Traders who rely on the route to transport agricultural produce and other goods are now unable to reach their destinations, a situation that residents warn is rapidly threatening local food security. Furthermore, the education of many children in the district has been abruptly halted. Many students have been forced to abandon their schooling as the journey across the river has become too dangerous or entirely impossible, raising fears about the long-term impact on the area's literacy and development.
Local leaders in the Abesua community report that their attempts to address the situation have met with hostility. Community representatives previously appealed to the illegal miners to repair the damage they were causing to the road and bridge infrastructure, but these pleas were reportedly met with threats of violence. With the bridge now impassable, residents are urgently calling on the government and the Atwima Mponua District Assembly to intervene. They are demanding immediate action to halt the illegal mining operations and provide resources for the restoration of the bridge to restore normalcy to the isolated communities.
