Petroleum tanker drivers have begun a sit-down strike over the deteriorating condition of the 7.2-kilometre Valco Roundabout-Kpone Junction road in Tema.

The drivers say the poor state of the road poses serious safety risks, particularly because they use the route to transport highly inflammable petroleum products.

They argue that the deteriorating road is not only affecting their operations but also increasing the risks associated with transporting petroleum products through the Tema enclave.

Although a contractor is currently on site to rehabilitate the road, the drivers say progress has been frustratingly slow, prompting them to take industrial action over what they describe as an increasingly dangerous situation.

Speaking to Citi FM, National Chairman of the Union, George Nyawunu, said the drivers had been forced to take action because the road had become increasingly dangerous.

The concerns are heightened by the fact that the area houses several petroleum storage depots containing millions of litres of fuel and LPG.

“Given the high concentration of volatile materials in the area, stakeholders caution that the entire Tema township and its surrounding communities are effectively sitting on a potential time bomb if the infrastructure is not urgently addressed,” he said.