Woman Dies After Delayed Access to Hospital in North Tongu
…Bad Roads Turn Residents into Human Ambulances
A wave of grief has swept through Wuxor Battor, a farming community in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region, following the heartbreaking death of a young woman whose only crime was falling ill in a place cut off by bad roads.
The victim, identified only as Yaa, reportedly lost her life after relatives and community members were forced to carry her on their heads in a desperate attempt to get her to a nearest health facility.
With no vehicle able to navigate the deplorable road network, the community turned itself into a human ambulance, an act of compassion that, tragically, came too late.
Wrapped in a piece of cloth and tied to a wooden pole, Yaa who was too weak to walk — was lifted, balancing her fragile body above the water and transported across, while helpless relatives watched and prayed for a miracle that never came.
By the time they reached medical care, her condition had significantly deteriorated.
She later succumbed, leaving behind a grieving community and a painful reminder of the deadly consequences of impassable roads worsened by recent rains.
Assembly Member for the Ayiwata Electoral Area, Mawuena Morti, who shared the distressing account, described the situation as both “devastating” and “unacceptable.”
According to her, Yaa’s story is not an isolated case but part of a troubling pattern where lives are routinely lost due to inaccessible roads.
“Many have died because they simply couldn’t get to the hospital on time,” she lamented, noting that the situation becomes even more dire during the rainy season when roads become completely unusable.
A viral video showing Yaa’s harrowing journey has since sparked outrage and renewed calls for urgent government intervention.
In an emotional appeal posted on social media, Ms. Morti wrote: “My heart is deeply heavy as I share this painful situation. It is devastating to know that something as basic as a road can stand between life and death. No family should have to endure this kind of helplessness and pain.”
She is now calling on authorities to act swiftly. “We cannot wait for another tragedy. Our lives matter. Our community matters. The time to fix this road is now.”
For the people of Wuxor Battor, Yaa’s death is more than a loss—it is a symbol of neglect, and a cry for help that can no longer be ignored.
