After nearly 60 years of seasonal isolation, dangerous crossings and broken promises, the people of Vea in the Bongo District are celebrating a historic milestone, the commissioning of a community-built spillway walkway over the Vea Dam.
For generations, residents, students, farmers and pregnant women risked their lives crossing the spillway during rainy seasons when the dam overflowed, cutting off access to schools, markets and hospitals.
With no pedestrian bridge since the dam’s construction in 1965, the simple act of moving from one community to another often became a life-threatening journey.
A journey through neglect
The Vea Dam, one of the most critical irrigation facilities in Northern Ghana, has contributed immensely to agriculture. Yet for decades, its spillway also represented hardship. Each rainy season submerged footpaths, forcing people to swim, rely on wooden planks or pay canoe operators simply to cross.
Community leaders repeatedly appealed to authorities, but promises went unfulfilled. Pregnant women struggled to reach health centres, students missed school, and economic activities were disrupted, a cycle that became a painful routine for the community.
A people who refused to wait
Tired of waiting, the people of Vea decided to shape their destiny. Led by local leaders, youth groups and diaspora support, residents mobilised funds, provided labour and collaborated with benevolent individuals and organisations to construct a safe walkway across the spillway.
The project stands not only as infrastructure, but as a symbol of resilience and unity. It reflects a community’s refusal to be defined by neglect, choosing collective action over continued suffering.
A day of joy and pride
Commissioning the walkway this week, the joy in Vea was unmistakable. Children walked across with excitement, elders expressed relief and pride, and community leaders described the walkway as “a bridge of dignity.”
For many, the moment felt like liberation, an end to an era where the raining season separated families, classrooms and livelihoods.
A path to opportunity
The new walkway promises year-round connectivity. Students can now attend school consistently. Pregnant women and the sick can access health facilities without fear. Farmers transporting produce can move freely without paying crossing fees or taking dangerous routes.
Beyond convenience, the walkway opens doors to greater economic activity, safety, and dignity. It positions Vea for improved development as government and development partners continue broader rehabilitation works on the dam and surrounding areas.
A new chapter begins
Vea’s walkway is more than a physical structure, it is a declaration of self-determination. After decades of isolation, the community has reclaimed its future with unity, innovation and perseverance.
As the rains return in coming years, the people of Vea will no longer brace for isolation. Instead, they will walk confidently and safely into each new season, proof that when communities rise, barriers fall.
