The contractor working on the construction of the bridge over the River Ayensu in Asuokor community in Upper West Akim District has assured the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, that the project will be completed by the end of 2026.
The contractor, Kabaka Constructions Limited, says work on the concrete components of the bridge is approximately 63 to 65 percent complete, with the steel stanchions also undergoing fabrication and coating ahead of installation.
Site Engineer for Kabaka Constructions Limited, Albert Bray Barry, gave the assurance when the Eastern Regional Minister and the District Chief Executive for Upper West Akim, Rebecca Chissah, inspected the project on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
He said progress of work remains on schedule despite disruptions caused by heavy rains in June and July.
“At most, by the end of this year, we should see this bridge installed and completed, ready for use,” Mr Barry said.
According to him, once the concrete works are completed, the components would be allowed to mature for 21 days before being transported to the site for installation.
Mr Barry also rejected claims that they abandoned the project, explaining that the nature of the construction work required different teams to work at different stages.
“We have never abandoned site. We have always been on site, aside from the fact that the rain took our spaces off,” he said.
He said the project involved specialised teams, including carpenters, masons, steel benders and concrete workers, who were deployed according to the stage of work.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work following the inspection.
She said the project became a priority after President John Dramani Mahama was informed about residents, particularly schoolchildren, using a tree to cross the River Ayensu.
According to the Minister, preparations for the construction initially involved the Ministry of Defence before the project was handed over to the Ministry of Roads and Highways for execution.
She said the project commenced earlier this year but was temporarily affected by heavy rains which covered some of the construction materials and works.
“We are happy and we know Ghanaians are happy also seeing the extent to which the work has gone,” Mrs Awatey said.
She assured residents of Asuokor and the wider Eastern Region that the bridge would soon be completed to provide a safe means of crossing the river.
The construction of the bridge attracted national attention in March 2025 after a video circulated on social media showing two pupils, aged between four and nine, using a tree branch placed across the River Ayensu to get to school.
The children reportedly said they were traumatised by a vehicular accident on the main road and had therefore resorted to using the river crossing as an alternative route to school.
The incident triggered public concern over the safety of children and residents in the area and prompted President Mahama to direct the Ministries of Roads and Highways and Defence to deploy engineers and other relevant stakeholders to assess the situation and facilitate the construction of a permanent bridge.
When completed, the Asuokaw Bridge is expected to provide a safer crossing for pedestrians, improve connectivity between communities, facilitate the movement of goods and people, and contribute to economic activity in the area.
Wise Isaac Amuzu, One of the school children captured in the viral video crossing the river told Starr News he is excited to see the bridge project progress steadily stating that when completed school children in the community will have safe access to cross to school curbing risk of being knocked down by speeding vehicles and motorcyles.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
