Residents of Zorko-Gambrongo in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region can now heave a sigh of great relief following the construction of a footbridge in the community after decades of struggle.
The community is divided into two by a major river that residents had to meander their way through during the dry season when the river is dried up. The story during the rainy season is a nightmare, affecting people’s health, education, and various economic activities.
This is so because; the community has a premium basic school at one end and a major health facility at another end, separated by the river requiring the construction of the bridge.
The eventual construction of the bridge followed a proposal that was forwarded to the Ghana National Petroleum Commission through the then Chief Director of the Ministry of Energy, Lawrence Apalse in 2021 by the then Assembly Member for the Gambrongo Electoral Area, Stephen Baba Atuah.
Though he is no longer in office as an assembly member following his decision not to contest the elections, Mr. Atuah expressed excitement over the construction of the footbridge late last year.
Speaking to Dreamz News on the sidelines of the commissioning of the facility, Mr. Atuah noted that school children could not attend school when river got full, adding the situation equally posed a threat to accessing health, especially by pregnant women.
He is, therefore, delighted that people can finally move across with tricycles now plying the stretch with ease.
“The idea of bridging this stream started in the 2000s and there have been promises but it was never done until 2021 when I wrote an application through the then Chief Director of the Ministry of Energy and it was in 2023 that they communicated to us that they were coming to give us a footbridge through Mr. Lawrence Apalse,” he recalled.
“The other half is the premium basic school in this area and this other half is a Health Center so during the rainy season, school children are not able to cross to school and pregnant women cannot cross. This is a main root leading to the Zorkor market so when it rains people can’t go to the market. So, this footbridge serves a lot of purpose.” He stated.
