The Accra-Kumasi highway witnessed heavy traffic jam Thursday, November 15, 2012 when landowners and other persons affected by the highway construction mounted a roadblock. They were demonstrating over failure of government to pay them compensation, which they say is four years overdue. About a hundred of the affected persons, clad in red, chanted all morning in anger as they blocked the major travel route. Some of them told Joy News they are living in harsh conditions and are unhappy that the District Chief Executive for the area has not heeded their concerns. According to the demonstrators, the Finance Ministry has authorized the Road Ministry to compensate them but no payments have been made. One of them told Joy News: “They have not come to negotiate or do anything; meanwhile the money has already been released so we want to block the road so that they will know that we are also human beings, we have families and children to pay their school fees.” Joy News checks at the Suhum Kraboa Coal-Tar District Assembly Thursday afternoon indicate that the DCE, Samuel Kwabi Fletcher, is in an emergency meeting with the leadership of the group after which he will speak to the demonstrators at the assembly office, where they are currently assembled. However, Roads and Highway Minister Joe Gidisu, who is on a campaign tour with the President in the Brong Ahafo region, tells Joy News that efforts to pay the affected persons are well underway. He has called on the demonstrators to exhibit restraint.