Man Caught Sawing New Nkawkaw Bridge Just 24 Hours After Completion

A man has landed himself in serious trouble after he was caught attempting to cut a metallic component of a newly constructed footbridge in Nkawkaw, barely 24 hours after it was completed by local residents.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, shocking members of the community who had just celebrated the completion of the bridge the day before. The footbridge, built through communal effort and with contributions from residents, was constructed to connect two key sections of the town, which had previously been cut off due to a damaged crossing.

Eyewitnesses say the suspect, believed to be in his late 30s, was spotted crouched near the middle of the bridge, using a hacksaw to cut through one of the metal rods reinforcing the structure.

A passerby who noticed the suspicious activity raised an alarm, drawing the attention of others nearby. The man attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended by a group of angry residents.

He had already cut deep into the metal. If we hadn’t caught him, the damage could have made the bridge unsafe, one witness said.

The suspect was handed over to local authorities shortly after his arrest. Preliminary reports suggest he may have intended to sell the metal as scrap, a practice that has become increasingly common in some areas despite its dangers and legal consequences.

Community leaders have expressed outrage over the incident. We worked tirelessly, contributing our time, money, and energy to build this bridge. For someone to try and destroy it less than a day later is heartbreaking, said Kwame Adusei, a resident and member of the local bridge committee.

The Nkawkaw police have confirmed the arrest and stated that investigations are ongoing. They have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity around public infrastructure.

This incident has reignited calls for stricter security measures around communal projects, especially in rural and semi-urban areas where such acts of vandalism can have serious consequences for the community.

As of now, the bridge remains intact, although structural assessments will be carried out to ensure it is still safe for use. Authorities are also considering surveillance or security patrols to deter similar acts in the future.

The suspect is expected to be arraigned before court within the week.