Kenyasi 18: Residents cry for permanent bridge as flooded river cuts off schools, farms and healthcare
Residents of Kenyasi 18, a farming community in the Kwabre East Municipality of the Ashanti Region are appealing to the government to urgently construct a permanent replacement for a collapsed bridge that has left the community isolated whenever it rains.
According to the residents, the deteriorated bridge linking Kenyasi 18 to neighboring communities has remained unattended for months, forcing children, farmers, workers and the sick to risk their lives whenever floodwaters rise.
They say even moderate rainfall turns the river into a dangerous barrier, bringing daily life to a standstill.
Speaking to Otec News on Thursday, July 28, 2026, residents described the hardship they endure during the rainy season, saying many families are trapped in their homes for days.
“When it rains heavily, we can’t even cross to go to work or school. Sometimes we stay in our homes for three days because of the flooding. We are appealing to the government to help us,” one resident lamented.
They said the situation has disrupted economic activities and prevented many people from accessing essential services.
Parents expressed deep concern over the safety of their children, revealing that some residents are forced to carry pupils across the river because the damaged bridge is no longer safe.
“We usually carry the children across the river. If nobody is there to help them, some of them cannot even go to school,” a resident said.
Several community members also recounted incidents in which they believe two children were swept away by floodwaters after heavy rains destroyed a wooden crossing.
Although Otec News could not independently verify the reported deaths, the accounts underscore the fear that grips residents whenever it rains.
The flooding has also taken a heavy toll on farming and healthcare, with residents saying crops are destroyed, workers are unable to report to their jobs and patients struggle to reach health facilities.
“We can’t cross the river to work and get food to feed the family. We can’t even visit the hospital when it rains,” a farmer told Otec News.
Residents said they are no longer interested in temporary solutions, urging the government to construct a durable bridge that will guarantee safe access to schools, farms, markets and healthcare facilities throughout the year.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Francis Appiah
