Commercial drivers of Saki-Bediako in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality have embarked on a one-week sit-down strike over deplorable roads. 

In an interview with Ghana News Agency in Tema, Mr. Alexandra Ntiah, a commercial driver at Tema GPRTU stated that the bad state of the road led to a lot of challenges, such that driving a pregnant woman to the health facility may lead to a miscarriage. 

Mr. Rexmond Ntiamoah, Chairman of the Kpone Barrier taxi local union, reiterated that the stretch from Kpone Barrier to the Michel Camp gate through Saki to Bediako junction and Bediako last stop had been abandoned for a long time, hence the call for the sit-down strike. 

He stated that drivers paid their taxes and were road worthy, but their roads had been neglected; therefore, the sit-down strike would end if only the government came to their aid by fixing the roads hence, they would call for a two-week demonstration. 

Speaking to Mr. George Donkor, a commercial driver, he added that he often took his car to the mechanic shop for maintenance because driving through rough roads destroyed the shocks of the vehicle and caused other vehicular-related issues. 

Thus, visiting the mechanic shop more often for maintenance cost a lot, which meant he ended up losing his sales. 

Mr. Raymond Akuffo, Kpone Barrier taxi station secretary, added that drivers and residents had waited for too long for the government to fix the road, and driving through the rough road destroyed their shocks. 

He emphasised that the cost of spare parts was on the rise, so they could not use their sales to maintain the cars. 

"Drivers more often feel for pregnant women, especially when driving them to their destination, and the dust particles from the road also have healthy implications", he added. 

He appealed to the government and the assembly to help fix the roads for the sustainable development of the community. 

Mr. Joseph Tetteh, Member of Parliament for Kpone Katamanso, stated that the issue had been a long overview, and thus last year he was informed that the road had been awarded to a contractor to fix it. 

He stated that it’s been a year now and nothing had been done to fix it.  

He highlighted that if this action did not provide any response, he would lead them to embark on a demonstration with the drivers within two weeks. 

Mr. Tetteh, moreover, stated that he had engaged the Road Minister severally to come to the residents and drivers aid by fixing the deplorable roads in the municipality to aid development. 

Mr. Isaac Newton Tetteh, Assembly Man for Mlitsakpo Electoral Area, explained that the stretch led to the N1 and N2 highways, which were about 3.8km from Kpone Barrier down to Adom Herbal Clinic.  

For some time now, the authorities have announced that the road has been awarded on a contract, but residents haven’t seen any changes, hence the drivers sit-down strike in the area. 

He noted that about 100 residents walked to their destination due to the lack of commercial vehicles in the area. 

He stated that the few deplorable major roads in the community, when fixed by the government, would help to mitigate pressure on the residents. 

The drivers appealed to the government and the Assembly to help fix the roads.