Petroleum tanker drivers operating in the Tema industrial enclave have begun a sit-down strike over the deteriorating condition of the 7.2-kilometre Valco Roundabout-Kpone Junction road.
The drivers say the poor state of the road has created serious safety concerns, particularly because they use the route to transport highly inflammable petroleum products.
The protest is aimed at drawing urgent attention to the road and pressing authorities to accelerate ongoing rehabilitation works.
Drivers raise safety concerns
National Chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union, George Nyawunu, said the condition of the road has deteriorated to the point where drivers can no longer continue operating normally without putting themselves and other road users at risk.
According to him, the decision to withdraw their services was taken after repeated concerns over the state of the road failed to result in the desired pace of improvement.
Mr Nyawunu acknowledged that a contractor is currently working on the road but complained that the rehabilitation has progressed too slowly.
He said the poor road conditions are affecting the movement of tanker trucks and creating additional risks for drivers transporting petroleum products through the area.
Concern over fuel and LPG storage facilities
The concerns are particularly significant because the Tema enclave hosts several petroleum storage and distribution facilities.
These installations hold millions of litres of fuel and LPG, meaning any serious accident involving a tanker could have consequences beyond the immediate road users.
The drivers and other stakeholders therefore want urgent measures to improve the road and reduce the risks associated with the transportation of petroleum products within the area.
The situation has prompted warnings that the combination of deteriorating road infrastructure and the high concentration of flammable products could pose a major threat to communities around Tema if not addressed.
Stakeholders have consequently called for the rehabilitation of the Valco Roundabout-Kpone Junction road to be treated as an urgent public safety matter rather than simply a road construction project.
Call for accelerated rehabilitation
The tanker drivers are demanding faster progress on the rehabilitation works, arguing that the safety implications of delays extend beyond their own operations.
They maintain that improving the road is critical to ensuring the safe transportation of petroleum products, protecting road users and reducing the potential impact of accidents within the Tema industrial area.
The sit-down strike is expected to increase pressure on authorities and the contractor to expedite work on the 7.2-kilometre stretch.
