Drivers threaten to boycott usage of road

Brodekwano, (Ash), Jan. 22, GNA - The Asafo market branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) Drivers who ply the Asafo market Kumasi-Beposo road, have threatened to boycott plying the road when the rains set in soon.

Mr. Mattew Kwadwo Poku, Vice Chairman of the Union who stated this said, their intended decision was because of the poor nature of the road and weak bridges.

Mr. Poku stated this at the weekend at Brodekwano after inspecting the state of the road and bridges to ascertain their viability and strength.

He said although five out of the 16 bridges posed as death traps, which could collapse soon, they were still using the roads cautiously. They could not however continue that way during the rainy season, which was just about to start.

He mentioned that although the road had been awarded on contract, the trenches dug out by the contractor before abandoning it had rather worsened the already dangerous state of the road network. Mr. Poku said it is to avoid any further fatal accident that the Union was contemplating taking the decision of boycotting the use of the road.

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) contacted Dr. Osafo Ampadu, The Ashanti Regional Engineer of Feeder Roads, he confirmed the story of deterioration of the road, and commended the drivers for their tolerance so far.

Dr. Ampadu gave the assurance that the contractor was being monitored closely and that he was certain to take advantage of the dry season to complete all culverts being constructed before the rains start, saying re-gravelling from Nyamiani to Beposo is supposed to be completed before March this year.