Portions of the Adeiso-Asamankese roadExactly a week after drivers at Ashaiman, near Tema rioted due to the bad nature of roads in the area, commercial drivers at Asamankese in the Eastern Region also embarked on a demonstration yesterday in protest against the bad roads in the town.
The roads are the Asamankese town roads, the Asamankese-Nsawam road, Asamankese-Suhum road, Asamankese-Kade road and the Asamankese-Akroso road.
Unlike Ashaiman where the situation was rowdy, the demonstration in Asamankese was peaceful as drivers only refused to work as a sign of their protest.
The sit-down action at Asamankese was nicknamed ‘Azonto Demonstration’ by drivers and residents because of the movement of vehicles and passengers in the drivers’ quest to dodge bumpy roads or potholes
The demonstration, which was said to have started at dawn, was called off at about 10 a.m, shortly after the Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) had called a meeting with the leaders of the drivers’ unions.
Drivers
A taxi driver, Kwasi Edward, told the Daily Graphic that he serviced his vehicle every week because of the bad nature of the roads.
“The mechanics are ‘chopping’ our money, because if you don’t send your car for servicing and repairs, you will starve”.
A commercial bus driver, Kofi Ofori, said the drivers did not have any problem with anybody and that “our problem is with the bad nature of the roads”.
He indicated that the wear and tear of their vehicles had increased because of the bad roads, and it was time an immediate action was taken to ensure a long lifespan for their vehicles.
Another taxi driver, Kwame Fosu, said “after a day’s work, you feel pains all over your body due to the bumpy roads”.
Sammy Ola, also a taxi driver, said it was time attention was turned to the roads so as to ensure the smooth movement of people, goods and services.
“The roads are too rough and bumpy and people cannot travel from one part of the town to another without any difficulty. I mean why should it be so?,” he asked.
GPRTU
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) Branch Number 3 Chairman, Mr Kwadwo Fosu, said the protest was in order, because the transport operators had raised the issue with the municipal assembly.
“We have been telling them about the bad nature of the roads but they have not listened to us. At least this action will make them act,” he said, adding that it was when they started demonstrating that “the assembly came and invited us”.
Despite the meeting, he said, the drivers and operators had given the government one month to improve the road, since drivers could not continue using it.
According to Mr Fosu, he received complaints every now and then from drivers about the poor state of the road, and “I think their action today is a manifestation of their anger”.
Municipal Chief Executive
The Municipal Chief Executive for West Akyem, Mr George Mensah Akpalu, said it was true that the drivers embarked on a demonstration due to the nature of the roads in the area.
He noted that it was not the assembly that constructed roads and pledged to take the issue up with his superiors.
Mr Akpalu said he was on his way to meet the Eastern Regional Minister on the issue to see how best to address the problem, adding that the Chief of Staff, Mr Prosper Bani, had also called him.
Police
The Asamankese District Police Superintendent, Yahaya Muchiraru, who confirmed the incident, said the demonstration was quite peaceful.
He said he had deplored enough men at the lorry park and other places ahead of the action of the drivers so that miscreants did not take advantage of the situation to destroy property.
“Asamankese is peaceful and people are going about their normal activities as you can see,” he said.
Residents
Some residents said although they were affected by the sit-down strike of the drivers, they supported their action since they were also affected by the nature of the roads.
A resident, Kwasi Gyamfi, said “There is no smooth ride in and out of this town. It is like we are not part of Ghana,” he said, adding that the “whole town road is in a mess”.
Another resident, Kwame Frimpong, who also indicated his support for the action of the drivers, said the people were fed up with the situation because it was unbearable.
By Emmanuel Bonney
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