Truck drivers block Ghana-Cote d'Ivoire highway

Takoradi, July 9, GNA - Drivers of articulated trucks are reported to have used their trucks to block the Tikobo Number One, Elubo portion of the Ghana-Cote d'Ivoire highway at Kilometre Five to Elubo. The blockade, which started yesterday, was to draw attention to the bad nature of some portions of the road and force the Ghana Highway Authority to take immediate action on it.

This has temporary disrupted transportation to and from Elubo, one of the main entry points in the Western Region.

It has also seriously affected social and economic activities as many traders are stranded at the border.

An Official of the Customs Exercise and Preventive Service told the Ghana News Agency on telephone that most of the 150 trucks blocking the roads are from Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo.

Mr Martin Ackah, District Chief Executive for Jomoro confirmed the action of the drivers in a telephone interview with the Ghana News Agency on Friday and described it as unlawful.

The action of the drivers is causing a lot of inconveniences to traders and road users particularly those, who ply between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire.

According to Mr Ackah, the drivers said because they pay tolls and other levies, they did not see why the road should be left in that poor state.

Their action was to draw official attention to this for immediate action from the authorities.

The DCE said he had arranged with Eagle Star, a road construction company to fill potholes with chipping and repair some parts of the road as a temporary measure.

He said his office is in contact with the drivers and hoped they would call off their action soon to allow free flow of vehicles between the countries in the sub-region.