Commuters and residents of Akrofu and Sokode Gbogame in the Ho Municipality are stranded following the collapse of a key bridge linking the two communities, severely disrupting transportation and economic activities in the area.
The damaged bridge, which served as the main route for residents, farmers, and traders between Akrofu Agove, Kpeve, Ho, Hlefi and Sokode Gbogame, caved in several months ago.
Although emergency work began to replace the collapsed section with a culvert, construction has since stalled, leaving the road unsafe and virtually impassable.
A visit to the site by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) revealed that the half-finished culvert has worsened travel conditions, forcing drivers to avoid the route.
Residents now rely on motorbikes and a few taxis willing to risk the damaged stretch.
Mr Ben Kofi, a resident of Akrofu, expressed frustration over the situation, saying the collapse had brought untold hardship to commuters.
“Transport fares have doubled. We now pay about GH₵30.00 for a round trip between Ho and Akrofu, and those using motorbikes spend up to GH₵40.00. Many drivers are refusing to use the road because it’s bad and dangerous,” he said.
He alleged that contractors working on the culvert had abandoned the site due to the non-payment for work already done.
The halted project, he said, had left community members struggling to transport goods and attend to daily business activities.
Other residents who spoke to the GNA described the situation as “unbearable,” calling on the Ho Municipal Assembly and the Department of Urban Roads to intervene urgently.
They warned that continued neglect could lead to accidents and further isolate the communities.
“The road is getting worse every day. If this continues, even motorbikes won’t be able to pass. We are pleading with authorities to fix it quickly,” another resident appealed.
Efforts by the GNA to reach Mr Stephen Adom, Ho Municipal Chief Executive, and the Assembly Member of the area for comments proved unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Residents are, however, hopeful that government and the assembly would prioritise the reconstruction of the bridge to restore safe and reliable transport between the two key farming communities.