Collapsed Bridge Claims Woman and Baby in Ghana's Upper East Region

Tragedy struck in Bugri, a suburb of Tempane in Ghana's Upper East Region, as a collapsed bridge claimed the lives of a woman and her two-month-old baby. The pair were attempting to cross the treacherous Bugri Bridge on a motorbike when the incident occurred on Sunday, August 23, 2026.

This devastating event brings the total number of fatalities at the Bugri Bridge to three. Last month, a young man also lost his life when the bridge was flooded by torrential rains. The repeated loss of life has ignited anger among residents, who have voiced strong criticism over the perceived slow response of the Tempane District Assembly in addressing the bridge's dilapidated state.

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It is unfortunate we lost a productive young woman. This bridge caused the death of a young man who was going back to Bawku from Tempane last month. This is the second time people have lost their lives at the Bugri Bridge, with the death toll standing at three as of now.

Joseph Mbilla, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Tempane, confirmed the incident. He explained that the woman was carrying her two children on the motorbike when she attempted to cross the "life-threatening" bridge. The motorbike crashed, resulting in the deaths of the woman and her youngest child, while the older child survived the ordeal.

In response to the ongoing danger, the assembly had previously attempted to block access to the bridge, but some road users reportedly ignored the warnings and reopened it. Following Sunday's tragedy, the bridge has again been temporarily blocked. Mbilla stated that a contract has been awarded to create a temporary passage for road users and that plans are in motion to construct a permanent bridge once the rains subside. He urged all pedestrians and motorists to stay clear of the bridge until repairs are completed.

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We want the road users to steer clear of using that bridge until the contractor finishes fixing it.