Residents of Mayoro and surrounding communities in the Kassena Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region say they remain cut off from the regional and municipal capitals due to the collapse of two major bridges over the Mayoro and Navio rivers, a situation that worsens during the rainy season.
The broken bridges have forced residents to rely on longer, difficult routes to access essential services, including healthcare. In one recent case, a pregnant woman in labour died while being transported to hospital after an ambulance was forced to avoid the damaged bridge and take an extended route.
Community members who spoke to our news team expressed frustration over what they described as years of neglect by successive governments, despite repeated appeals for the reconstruction of the bridges.
Mayoro and its surrounding communities, with an estimated population of about 16,000, depend heavily on the two bridges to connect to nearby towns and Navrongo, the municipal capital. However, the deteriorated state of the bridges and adjoining roads has made movement extremely difficult, particularly during the rainy season, when parts of the route become muddy and impassable.
One of the affected structures is the Buru–Navio bridge, which links the Chiana-Paga Constituency to the Navrongo Central Constituency. The bridge remains broken, disrupting trade and movement between the two constituencies. Similarly, the concrete bridge over the Mayoro River, which collapsed several decades ago, serves as the main access route to Navrongo but remains unrepaired.
The poor road network has negatively affected healthcare delivery, education, and economic activities, with farmers reporting frequent spoilage of agricultural produce due to delays in transporting goods to markets. Health workers also struggle to refer patients to secondary healthcare facilities.
A particularly tragic incident occurred when a pregnant woman in labour was being referred to the Navrongo War Memorial Hospital. Instead of using the shortest route—less than 15 minutes—the ambulance was forced to travel through Kandiga Junction and Sirigu, a journey that took over an hour. The woman and her baby died before reaching the hospital.
The Assembly Member for the Mayoro Electoral Area, Kingsley Kanwi, described the situation as dire. He said the Mayoro bridge has remained broken for about 30 years despite numerous petitions to the municipal assembly.
“This is the main road to Navrongo, yet the bridge has not been fixed for decades. During the rainy season, it becomes almost impossible to pass here. We have written several letters, but we are told it is beyond the assembly’s control,” he lamented.
Recounting the recent death, Mr Kanwi explained that the ambulance could not cross the damaged bridge and had to take a much longer route, resulting in the loss of both mother and child. He noted that this was the third such death linked to the poor road conditions in the area.
He added that growing frustration among the youth could lead to unrest if the situation is not addressed, though he said he continues to engage political leaders in hopes of finding a lasting solution.
Residents have renewed calls for the immediate reconstruction of the two bridges, stressing that the current conditions threaten lives and undermine livelihoods.
In response, the Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central, Aworigo Akibange Simon, said a contract has been awarded for the construction of a bridge over the Mayoro River, with work expected to begin early next year. He explained that the project forms part of a 7.6-kilometre road upgrade, which he described as a top priority due to its economic importance and the loss of lives linked to the poor road conditions.
The MP assured residents that a contractor has been selected and pledged to continue engaging the Roads and Highways Ministry to ensure work begins as scheduled.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, announced during the Nimoro Fao Kuri Festival in Mayoro that several road projects have been earmarked for construction next year. He said the Upper East Region would benefit from major agricultural road developments aimed at boosting the local economy.
