Residents of Asuosunso Bankrogya, a cocoa-farming community in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region, are making a passionate appeal to the government for the construction of a bridge over a river that frequently floods during the rainy season, cutting them off from critical services and endangering lives.
According to the residents, the river, which serves as the only access route between Bankrogya and nearby communities, becomes impassable anytime it rains. The lack of a bridge has left community members isolated, especially during emergencies when healthcare, education, and market access are urgently needed.
“Whenever it rains, the river overflows and we can’t cross. If someone falls sick or a pregnant woman is in labour, there’s nothing we can do but wait and pray the water goes down,” a distressed resident shared with Newsmen.
“We feel trapped and forgotten.”
The situation has become a source of anxiety and fear for the entire community. Several residents recounted instances where sick individuals could not be rushed to the hospital and schoolchildren were forced to stay home for days due to the flooded river.
To make matters worse, illegal mining activities, locally referred to as galamsey, have severely polluted the river. Once the community’s main source of drinking water, the river is now contaminated, forcing residents to travel over three kilometers daily in search of potable water.
“We no longer drink from the river. It’s polluted by galamsey operations,” another resident said.
“Now we walk long distances every day just to fetch clean water.”
Bankrogya is a vital cocoa-producing area, contributing significantly to Ghana’s agricultural output. Despite its economic importance, residents say they have seen very little government support in terms of infrastructure and basic amenities.
In addition to a bridge, the community is pleading for the construction of boreholes to address the water crisis and a health facility to serve residents and surrounding villages.
“We are hardworking farmers. We produce cocoa, we support the economy, but we have been left behind. All we are asking for is a bridge, clean water, and a small clinic,” a community elder appealed.
With the rainy season in full swing, the residents say the situation is becoming unbearable and dangerous. They are calling on the Ejisu Municipal Assembly, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, and all relevant authorities to intervene immediately and construct a durable bridge that can ensure safe access year-round.
Until that happens, Bankrogya remains a community on edge — one flood away from total isolation.
