The 77-year-old Samreboi-Amoaku steel bridge, a critical link for the transport of goods and people, has collapsed after months of urgent pleas from Amoaku residents for its repair.
The bridge gave way on Thursday under the weight of a truck heavily loaded with bags of cocoa, which was en route from Mumuni to Samreboi. The collapse sent several bags of cocoa into the Samre River, but no casualties were reported.
Residents had intensified calls for government intervention in September, describing the bridge as a “ticking time bomb” and warning of potential disaster. Constructed in 1947 by Africa Timber and Plywood (now SAMARTEX), the bridge had not undergone any major repairs in its lifetime. Years of neglect left the structure severely compromised, with rusty and shifted metal spokes and cracked expansion joints.
Despite its deteriorating state, the bridge continued to carry light vehicles and cocoa-laden trucks bound for Takoradi Harbour, a situation community members had long deemed unsafe.
Mr. Joseph Kingsley Armah, Secretary to the Amoaku Palace, had previously cautioned that a collapse would bring commercial activities to a standstill. His fears have now materialized, with significant economic and social disruptions expected in the days ahead.
For decades, the bridge has been a lifeline for the transport of cocoa and food crops to harbours and markets. Amoaku, a key cocoa-producing area stretching from Mumuni Camp through Prestea to Samreboi, plays a vital role in Ghana’s cocoa economy.
The collapse of the bridge threatens to severely impact the Samre cocoa enclave, disrupting livelihoods and delaying exports, which are critical to the local and national economy.