From Samuel Agbewode
The Country Director of Madamfo Ghana, anon-governmental organisation (NGO), Mr. Emmanuel Kumadey, has expressed concern about the absence of a bridge over the Kalakpa stream to link Adaklu-Dzapo to Ho and other communities.
Mr. Kumadey noted that in view of the poor school infrastructure at Adaklu-Dzakpo, his organisation had provided modern classroom blocks for the basic schools, as a way of helping to promote effective teaching and learning, but it looks as if the facility would not be properly used during the rainy season.
Speaking to Volta File at Adaklu-Dzakpo, the Country Director of Madamfo Ghana pointed out that his organisation was very worried when they were informed that the wooden bridge constructed by the people had collapsed, which means that no vehicle could cross the Kalakpa stream to the community again.
Mr. Kumadey continued that his outfit had provided the new classrooms with the aim of enhancing educational activities in the community, but the collapse of the wooden bridge, particularly, during the rainy season, could lead to the facility not being used effectively.
He, therefore, called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, construct a bridge over the Kalakpa Stream in order to ensure the easy movement of goods and services from the community to Ho, as well as to enable pupils and teachers to attend classes regularly, because heavy rains would lead to the Kalakpa overflowing its banks, which would prevent both teachers and pupils from attending school.
The Headteacher of the Adaklu-Dzakpo Basic Schools, Mr. Vincent Tekpor, explained that the school authorities and the community were happy when Madamfo Ghana provided new classroom blocks for the school, but during the rainy season, the facility would be underutilised.
Mr. Tekpor continued that most of the time, when the Kalakpa stream overflows its banks, it carries away the wooden bridge constructed by the community, thereby making it very difficult for them to transport their farm produce to the Ho market, as well as pupils crossing the stream to school.
The Headteacher explained that during the rainy season, teachers do not attend classes regularly, but was quick to add that it was, however, not their fault, because when the Kalakpa Stream carries away the wooden structure serving as a bridge, it overflows its banks, which could last for more than two weeks, and both teachers and members of the community cannot travel to and fro the community.
Mr. Tekpor stressed that since the NGO had provided the school with classroom blocks, the government should also help the people by providing a bridge over the stream to ensure that teachers and students would attend classes regularly during the rainy season.
He said the yearly challenges that confront teachers and pupils did not only affect academic activities of the school, but also scared away teachers who were posted to the community upon hearing the difficulties that would confront them if they accept posting to the area.
Mr. Tekpor observed that since Adaklu had been made a district, it could be easy for the government to build a bridge that would rescue the people from the perennial suffering they go through.
The collapse of the wooden bridge, which currently deters vehicles from entering the Adaklu Dzakpo community, was seen by commercial motorbike riders, popularly called okada riders, as good fortune, as they have taken advantage of the situation to make money. They carry people whose vehicles cannot cross the Kalakpa stream to the community.
However, some of the people who spoke to Volta File blamed present and past governments for neglecting the area, in terms of an access road, coupled with the absence of a bridge over the years, and pleaded with the government to sympathise with the people by providing a bridge over the Kalakpa Stream.
The Adaklu-Dzakpo Chairperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Madam Victoria Aborbi, explained to Volta File that she was informed about the coming of District officers to the area to engage in a party activity, and as the Chairperson, she organised the people and waited for the officers from the District office for a very long time but they did not come.
She said when she was getting embarrassed, she called the office and was informed that the officers were almost at the community, but when they got to the bridge, they had to return because they could not cross, and the programme was suspended.
Madam Aborbi said the major challenge that emanated from the problem created by the absence of the bridge over Kalakpa was that pregnant women whose delivery period was within the rainy season, had to be carried by strong men who could swim across the stream.
The Presiding Member of the Adaklu District, Mr. Charles Agbesi, said the Assembly was aware of the collapse of the bridge, but the problem was that the District had no chief executive, and that the acting Chief Executive, who is the Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afortey Agbo, had been informed about the problem.
However, the members of the community commended the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr. Kwame Agbetor, and the Presiding Member of the Adaklu Assembly for their concern shown towards the plight of the people, but challenged the acting DCE to visit the area to acquaint himself with the problem