Atwima Mponua District authorities arrest four over bridge damage

Four individuals, including two Unit Committee members and two illegal miners, have been arrested in the Abesua community of the Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti Region. The arrests follow the collapse of a bridge over the River Kukubu, which served as the sole access route for several communities, including Abesua No. 1, Abesua No. 2, Nyamebekyere, and Abrokyire.

Preliminary investigations by the District Assembly suggest that the Unit Committee members allegedly accepted payments to lease land near the bridge and within the river buffer zone to illegal miners. The excavation and land degradation caused by these activities led to the river overflowing and destroying the infrastructure. The bridge collapse has halted local economic activities, preventing farmers from reaching markets and obstructing access to health facilities.

Authorities have commenced remedial works, which include clearing the clogged bridge, draining runoff from the road, and graveling the affected section with boulders to restore access. The suspects are in police custody and are expected to face charges related to illegal mining and causing damage to public infrastructure.