Kusawgu (NR), Jan. 20, GNA - The bridge linking Kosawgu and 25 farming communities in Central Gonja District had collapsed, preventing the people from traveling to Buipe and Tamale.

The Government of Ghana with support from the Japanese Government built the steel bridge in 1994.

The affected communities include, Kpejinpe, Tuliwe, Adape, Wuripekura, Suku, Adape, Kolfo and Digma where yam, groundnuts and millet are produced.

Alhaji Amadu Seidu, Member of Parliament (MP) for Yapei-Kosawgu, who inspected the bridge, appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) to repair the bridge and advised that a temporary foot bridge should be provided.

He said an articulated truck, loaded with cement and other building materials caused the collapse of the bridge a week ago. The MP said engineers indicated that some bolts had been removed from the bridge weakening its base.

He appealed to the people to be vigilant and prevent criminals from removing parts of the bridge. Mr. Issifu Salifu Be-Awuribe, Central Gonja District Chief Executive, appealed to donors to contribute to the repair of the bridge and lamented that farm produce could not be transported to the marketing centres due to the collapse of the bridge.