By Daniel Bampoe
A major infrastructural collapse in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region has brought economic activities to a halt, leaving entire communities cut off from markets, healthcare, and schools.
Three key bridges and four culverts, already in a deteriorated state for years, finally gave way during a torrential downpour earlier this week, cutting off major transport routes and plunging rural life into disarray.
The bridges, spanning rivers like the Obesua, had been marked by residents as structurally compromised for over four years.
Despite multiple appeals for rehabilitation, no significant repair works had been undertaken until their complete collapse following the heavy rains.
The road linking Ananase to Aye Kokooso—one of the district’s most critical trade and transport corridors—was worst affected, with residents now forced to rely on makeshift log crossings or trek long distances on foot.
Affected communities include Amanase Wawase, Aboabo, Aye Kokooso, Agbemehia, Walabenya, Gorje, and Ashuasifrom, among others.
These areas, primarily inhabited by farmers and petty traders, now face serious logistical challenges in transporting food produce, accessing schools, and reaching healthcare facilities.
Local Voices Paint a Dire Picture
“We suffer a lot anytime it rains heavily because the bridges were never fixed properly,” lamented Kwaku Essien, a resident of Amanase.
“Now we’re completely stranded. Farmers can’t send goods to the market, schoolchildren can’t cross safely, and emergency healthcare is almost impossible.”
Essien urged the government, especially the Ministry of Roads and Highways, to act swiftly—not just to rebuild the collapsed bridges and culverts but to restore the entire affected stretch of road.
He also called for the construction of temporary bypasses to ease current hardships.
Officials Respond as NADMO, DCE Visit Site
Following the disaster, the District Chief Executive for Ayensuano, Joshua Yaw Frederick Lartey, visited the sites in the company of officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to assess the extent of the damage.
Lartey assured residents that the assembly was working with relevant departments and agencies to secure urgent support.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Ida Adjoa Asiedu, undertook a tour of affected communities over the weekend to assess the damage firsthand.
At Amanase Zongo and Market, she inspected a collapsed bridge that had long been a hazard to both life and commerce.
Accompanied by key constituency executives, Ida Adjoa Asiedu reaffirmed her commitment to grassroots development and pledged direct support.
“We have already initiated reshaping works in some communities. I have donated resources to begin road rehabilitation in places like Kyenku Larbi and Aboabo Sonko, where the road conditions are deplorable,” she said.
Her visit and donation were widely welcomed by residents, who praised her practical approach to addressing longstanding infrastructure issues.
Call for National Attention
Despite the local efforts, the situation in Ayensuano underscores a larger national challenge of deteriorating rural infrastructure, often neglected until disaster strikes.
Residents are appealing for long-term solutions that go beyond emergency repairs.
