Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey has assured residents of Asuokow, particularly schoolchildren, that the government will soon construct a bridge to facilitate the safe crossing of a major river in the community.
This assurance came during a visit to the farming community on Monday February 9, 2025, following the circulation of a viral video showing two schoolchildren crossing the river without a bridge to access education.
The children were seen tottering on a fallen tree in the river to cross while in school uniform.
The Minister was accompanied by Members of Parliament for Upper West Akyem, Emmanuel Drah, and Lower West Akyem, Owen Frimpong, as well as the Engineering Unit of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The visit was prompted by President John Mahama’s directive after he saw the viral video, which highlighted the dangers faced by children in the community.
The section of the river where the children were seen crossing has become an alternative route for residents due to safety concerns on the main road, including incidents of pedestrian knockdowns.
The lack of a footbridge has forced the community, especially children, to take life-threatening risks to reach schools and other essential services.
During the visit, Eastern Regional Minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey assured the community that a bridge would be constructed soon to provide a safe passage for residents.
“We are here today to tell the people of Asuokow that our President has seen their plight, the Defence Ministry has seen their plight , leaving here we are leaving with one word that’s we are a government that deliver on our promise so leaving here is not just like leaving them very soon the project will be started and the people of Asuokow are going to have their children crossing this river in peace to go out and come back” the Minister assured.
MP for Lower West Akyem, Owen Kwame Frimpong, expressed his elation at the government’s swift response, stating the importance of the project for the community’s development.
The viral video featured two children, Wise and Alhaji, whose determination to access education despite the risks has inspired many.
Their dream of becoming military officers has brought national attention to the challenges faced by children in rural communities.
Parents of the children expressed their gratitude to President Mahama and the government for taking immediate steps to address the issue.
The construction of the footbridge will not only ensure the safety of the children but also improve access to education and other essential services for the entire community.
The Ghana Armed Forces’ Engineering Unit is expected to lead the project, with construction set to begin soon.
Perhaps the determination of these two pupils of Asuokow Methodist Basic School is fueled by stories like Thomas Amoani’s. A young man from Asuaba a nearby community.
Thomas Amoani defied the odds, scoring 8As at Adeiso Senior High School in 2020 and earning a scholarship to study at Brunel University in the United Kingdom where he bagged first class honours with ultimate prize in Economics and Finance for the 2023/24 academic year.
