Nkwanta south: A tragic incident occurred on Monday afternoon at Gyelen Bridge in the Bontibor farming community, Nkwanta South, Oti Region, when a 17-year-old student of Nkwanta Senior High School fell and drowned in the river. The bridge, which was constructed about a year ago, collapsed due to inferior materials, cutting off the community from commercial activities.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Frank Yeboah, the Assembly Member for Bontibor and Salifukrom Electoral Area, attributed the disaster to the poor construction of the bridge. He blamed the contractor for the negligence that led to the loss of the young student's life, emphasizing that no community member had oversight responsibility to ensure proper standards were met during construction.
The collapse of the bridge has left the community stranded, making it difficult for residents to transport farm produce to market centres. Pregnant women and sick individuals are also struggling to access nearby hospitals for treatment.
Nana Obirikiti Amanado, the Paramount Chief of Ntrubo North Traditional Area, who is also the grandfather of the deceased, expressed shock at the tragic death and urged President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC government to take urgent action to remedy the situation. The community is calling on the government and relevant agencies to assist in constructing a new bridge to enable residents to access necessities and transport their farm produce.
The poor condition of the roads in the area is also a concern, threatening the safety and livelihoods of residents. The chief emphasized that the community cannot continue to lose precious lives, particularly among women and children.