Lack of Bridges in Bongo District affect government’s flagship programme of PFJs

One of the broken bridges toward Akayonga community in the Bongo Distirct

A research finding has revealed that, lack of bridges in some communities in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region; have been identified as one of the major factors threatening the Planting for Food and Jobs PFJs, one of the government’s flagships programmes. 

It is against this backdrop that a sensitization forum for stakeholders was organized, at the Tankoo community in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region, to disseminate the research findings.

The research which was conducted by the Tankoo Noyine Cooperative Farmers Society TANDA, Nayire and Tankoo vegetable farmers groups in the Bongo District, was on the topic “Construction of bridges on Akayonga and Dua-Kantia Rivers to facilitate market access for agricultural and other livelihood activities for Beo-Nayire and Tankoo communities in the Bongo District”. 

The forum which was sponsored by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge BUSAC Fund and its Development partners DANIDA, USAID and EU, it brought together chiefs , assembly members,  women, youth groups , Staff of Ghana Education Service, opinion leaders, Party functionaries and members of the various community cooperative’s farmer society groups.

Speaking to Radio Ghana, the Coordinator of TANDA said that, the situation is affecting Agriculture extension; Education and health services delivery in the area as it prevent people

from accessing health care at Bongo, the District capital and also obstruct pupils from attending schools across the bridges. 

According to Asebilla, the research indicated that, 92% of the farmers have difficulties in transporting large quantities of their farm produce to the market centres due to  lack of bridges linking them.  Postharvest losses as a result of the poor road network in the areas stands at millet 15.6%, maize 20.1%, rice 17.7%, groundnuts 15.6%, and cowpea 6.5% respectively. 

Mr. Asebila noted that communities most affected by the broken down bridges are Beo Nayire,  Tankoo,  Dua –Kantia, Akayonga and the livelihood of people in these areas are seriously hindered. 

He indicated that, a Community Based Rural Development Project CBRDP in collaborated with the Bongo district assembly constructed a foot bridge on the Akayonga river in 2006 which subsequently collapsed in 2014. 

Mr. Asebila stated that, although the Bongo district assembly captured the Akayonga River in their action plan for 2016 and 2017 year to construct a foot bridge at a cost of GHs 105, 000.00, construction work has still not started since 2016.  Mr. Asebilla explained how the research was conducted. 

The Monitor of BUSAC Fund, Mr Vincent Subbey, who commended the stakeholders and urged them never to give up but to use tact and diplomacy in their advocacy activities in getting the projects worked on by the duty bearers.