After months of urgent warnings from residents, the 77-year-old Samreboi-Amoaku steel bridge has collapsed, highlighting years of government inaction on critical infrastructure.
The bridge, constructed in 1947 by Africa Timber and Plywood (now SAMARTEX), gave way on Thursday under the weight of a truck heavily loaded with cocoa bags en route from Mumuni to Samreboi. Several bags of cocoa plunged into the Samre River, though no casualties were reported.
Residents had repeatedly called for repairs, with appeals intensifying in September as the bridge’s deteriorating condition was described as a “ticking time bomb.” Years of neglect had left the structure severely compromised, with rusty, shifted metal spokes and cracked expansion joints.
Despite its weakened state, the bridge remained in use, carrying light vehicles and cocoa-laden trucks bound for Takoradi Harbour, exposing users to significant risk.
“The collapse of this bridge will halt commercial activities,” warned Mr. Joseph Kingsley Armah, Secretary to the Amoaku Palace, in earlier pleas to the government. His fears have now been realized, with major economic and social disruptions expected to follow.
For decades, the bridge served as a crucial link for transporting cocoa and food crops from Mumuni Camp through Prestea to Samreboi, an area integral to Ghana’s cocoa economy. Its collapse threatens livelihoods and could delay exports critical to the national economy.
The incident underscores a broader issue of infrastructure neglect, with questions now mounting over when—and if—the government will act to restore this vital link for the region’s residents and businesses.
AMENFI WEST: The 77-year-old Samreboi-Amoaku steel bridge, which was repaired in September after being damaged by a truck, collapsed yesterday, trapping a truck heavily loaded with bags of cocoa that was transporting the cocoa from Mumuni to Samreboi.
Several bags of cocoa sank… pic.twitter.com/PwhzRetbMF
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) November 15, 2024
