Youth in Bugri, in Ghana’s Tempane Constituency, have dismantled a collapsed bridge and blocked the road after a mother and her baby died crossing it on Sunday.
Residents say the deaths bring to three the number of people who have died in connection with the collapsed bridge over about three weeks, including a man who reportedly drowned earlier attempting the same crossing. NewsGhana could not independently confirm these figures; no statement from the police, NADMO or the local assembly on the deaths was available at the time of writing.
Young people in the community dismantled the damaged structure and cut off access to the road, saying the move was meant to stop further deaths by forcing action from the authorities. They are demanding a safe, durable alternative crossing before the road is reopened to traffic and pedestrians.
Residents describe the crossing as essential to daily life in the area and say reopening it without first fixing the safety problem would put more people at risk. The deaths of the mother and her infant have sharpened calls for the government or district authorities to intervene.
As of this report, there is no confirmed public response from district or road authorities to the community’s demands.
