Ablekuma drivers protest over ‘Azonto’ road

-

Angry drivers at Ablekuma in the Greater Accra region have blocked the main highway in a protest over bad roads in the area.

The road dubbed ‘Azonto road’ serves as a bypass route through Ablekuma, Lapaz to Accra according to the angry drivers are full of manholes, not potholes.

READ ALSO: Class six pupil drowns in Densu river

There was confusion Monday morning as the youth in the area and drivers burnt lorry tyres, chant and prevent cars from moving.

A livid driver, Isaac Nii Commey, who spoke to Adom News said the road has been in a very deplorable state for the past decade and nothing has been done to fix it.

He said they have complained about the effects the bad nature of roads is having on their vehicles which break down often and how they are forced to make frequent trips to mechanics but all their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Police hunt for man who chopped off lunatic’s hand

Nii Commey said he is unable to save money from his taxi business because he is unable to work as he did previously due to the constant breakdown of his taxi, a situation caused by huge potholes on the road.

“I spend more money in purchasing spare parts for this car than I used to,” he bemoaned.

The situation, the taxi driver stressed has become unbearable anytime it rains and sometimes risk skidding off the road if extreme caution is not applied.

The constant complaints, Nii Commey said, only received a visit from the Ga West Municipal Chief Executive, Clement Nii Lamptey Wilkinson who said the road could only be fixed next year.

READ ALSO: Spio-Garbrah Seeks Rawlings’ Blessings in Flagbearership

In a rebuttal, the Ga West MCE appealed for calm as he works with the Roads Ministry to give the road a facelift.

He noted that the road has been awarded to a contractor but the project stalled due to lack of funds.

Hon. Wilkinson said they have addressed the issue with the Roads Ministry, promising the contractor will come back to site in November.