By Michael Kofi Kenetey
Residents and opinion leaders of Supriso, near Nankese in the Suhum Municipality of the Eastern Region, have made a passionate appeal to the government to help complete the bridge over the River Mamen, whose construction has been halted for over two years. They made this appeal during a visit by our Eastern Regional Correspondent, Michael Kofi Kenetey, who came to assess the threat the abandoned bridge poses to the community.
Supriso is a farming community located about two kilometers from Nankese, with a population of over 1,500. Residents mainly cultivate crops such as cocoa, cassava, plantain, cocoyam, yam, banana, and vegetables. However, transporting their produce to market centers incurs exorbitant costs due to the poor road conditions and the unfinished bridge.
The community, which serves as one of the major food baskets of the Suhum Municipality, faces numerous developmental challenges. These include a deplorable road network, poor telecommunication signals, the absence of a school facility, and the stalled construction of the bridge over the Mamen River.
According to residents, the river often overflows its banks during rainfall, causing floods that cut off Supriso from Akorabor and other neighboring communities. This situation sometimes forces people out of their homes and causes their farm produce to perish due to an inability to access markets. Additionally, schoolchildren are unable to cross the river to attend school in nearby communities.
In an interview with GBC News, the Nkosuohene of Supriso, Nene Nagerh Mensah, recounted an incident in which a resident nearly lost his life while attempting to cross the river during heavy rains, but was rescued by community members. He emphasized that although the community faces several challenges, the halted bridge construction remains their most urgent concern.
The Assemblyman for the Supriso Electoral Area, Jonathan Kofi Odonkor, revealed that in a desperate attempt to address the issue, the community used coconut trees to create a makeshift walkway across the river.
However, this was washed away by repeated downpours. He lamented that all efforts to draw the attention of authorities to the situation have proven futile.
The Chief of Supriso, Baffour Odonkor Tawiah, also highlighted how the poor road conditions have contributed to multiple accidents in the area and echoed the call for government intervention.
Some drivers who spoke to GBC News expressed frustration over how the poor roads and abandoned bridge have negatively affected their work. They joined the call for the government to complete the bridge to help facilitate transportation and boost economic activities in the area.
