Protests Against Bad Roads: Tarkwa Residents Stop Minister From Entering The Town

Some residents of Tarkwa, a gold miming town in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality of the Western Region, led by their chiefs on Wednesday blocked the main Tarkwa Takoradi Highway in protest against deteriorating roads.

They blocked the road and burnt tyres in front of the Anglogold Ashanti, Iduaprim Mines.

Many road users were stranded as a result of the protest, as school children, workers and other road users were all denied passage.

Bauxite, Cocoa and Manganese hauling trucks which residents believe are responsible for the fast deterioration of the highway, were not allowed to cross.

Whilst some passengers alighted from their vehicles to support the demonstrators, others complained about the effect of their action on them.

Some portions of the Tarkwa-Takoradi Highway have been in bad shape for over three years now.

Of particular concern is the section of the road from Ahwetieso to Efuanta.

The heavy trucks for hauling minerals and cocoa to the Takoradi harbour are largely blamed for the fast deterioration of the road.

Messrs Asabea Constructions has been patching portions of the road for years, but the slightest rainfall leads to deep craters resurfacing.

The Western Region, particularly the Tarkwa-Bosogo area, which are noted for commercial mining, has some of the bad roads in the country, despite their contribution to national development.

The situation is even much worse in many cocoa growing areas of the region.