Residents of Ayikai Doblo Peace Village in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region have appealed to the government, to help construct a bridge over the Oware Dam to connect the area for easy vehicular movement.
They said the bridge connects the village to Manhea, Nsakina Oduman and Ablekuma among other but due to its weak nature, it is currently out-of-bounds for vehicles.
The residents led by the traditional leader of the community, Nii Gamu I, stressed that the reconstruction of bridge would enhance free movement of people to market centres and job places.
The people of about 7,000 population in addition appealed to individuals and philanthropists in addition to come to their aid, adding that they are in dire need for the modern bridge.
Speaking to DAILY Analyst on Thursday January 11, 2024, Nii Gamu I, said the situation is affecting the education, business, health and economic activities of the people living in the area.
He expressed worry about how students from the Ayikai Doblo and its adjoining communities risky their lives crossing the dam when it rains heavily to be able to access the education.
“When it rains, because of the low level of the bridge the whole place got flooded, preventing the large population of the students to access education since they cannot risk their lives to swim through the flooding water to school”, he stated.
He explained that the only public basic school in the area is located at Ayikai Doblo.
He added that the students living in Peace Village stretch uses the bridge to the school but they are unable to access the bridge when there is a heavy downpour.
He said the students have to walk additional six (6) kilometres using other rout to access the school any time it rains.
For his part, the spokesperson for the Oware Dam area of Ayikai Doblo Peace Village, Mr Kisi Wiafe Akenten said their appeal to the Ga West Municipal Assembly for support had fallen on deaf hear.
He added that the assembly says it does not have sufficient funds to help them although the residents had raised some funds and just need push from the assembly.
He said there was the need to complete the project before it start raining “because the raining water would definitely wash the uncompleted bridge away if we couldn’t meet it completion deadline hence “we appeal to the government, individuals and philanthropists to help build the bridge in the area.”
Mr Akenten on behalf of the residents, therefore, lauded the Member of Parliament (MP) for Amasaman Constituency, Honourable Akwasi Owusu Afrifa-Mensa for his response to support the construction of the bridge.
He noted that a couple of weeks ago when the MP visited the area as part of efforts to grade a road in the area, the stakesholders of the community approached him to request from his assistance and that the MP has given assurance to help them.
But he was quick to state that they were expecting the MP to fulfill his promise on time to help fix the problem to ensure easy movement on the bridge in the area.
Mr Akenten noted that the MP also interacted with the residents including Nii Gamu Peace Village I to reassure them of his continuous efforts to improve development in the area.
Source: Koryekpor Awlesu Freeman