A scene during the demonstration
Almost all activities in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region came to a standstill last Friday, November 16, 2018, as a result of a massive protest staged by drivers and transport unions in the area to express their displeasure over the bad nature of roads within the municipality and the Eastern Corridor road.
The protest, which was in breach of a court injunction, lasted for almost four hours. All lorry stations at Hohoe were closed and all commercial vehicles parked, as drivers and other sympathisers chanted and expressed their resentment against the government as regards the bad roads.
They blocked all entry and exit points of Hohoe, burnt tyres and prevented vehicular movement in the municipality until the police intervened. Passengers, traders and other persons who plied the route were left stranded as they could not move in and out of Hohoe.
Witnesses say the protest began earlier within the Central Business District, but was halted by the police. The drivers later re-organised themselves and blocked roads at Gbi Atabu (entry and exit from the Accra-Ho section of the Eastern Corridor road), Hohoe-Santrokofi boundry (exit and entry from Jasikan section of Eastern Corridor road) as well as the Obama area which is an alternative route in and out of Hohoe through Fodome.
Almost all the drivers who spoke to DAILY GUIDE complained bitterly about the Eastern Corridor road which they claimed was having a huge toll on their vehicles, health and business. They said despite many promises by successive governments, nothing had been done on the road.
After several consultations and dialogue between the protestors and the police, the protest came to an end at about midday.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Andrews Teddy Ofori, who was unhappy about the development, said his office was working with all parties to ensure the roads are fixed.
He explained that although the protestors sent a letter some weeks ago, the police requested them to postpone it due to inadequate personnel to supervise the protest on the said date.
The MCE said after the leaders of a group called ‘Coalition of Transport Unions’ at Hohoe presented their letter, the police called the leaders and explained to them that due to their oversight responsibilities at Afadjato South District, they would be sending men to the Ve Traditional Area to maintain law and order at the festival which began on Friday, 16th November to Sunday, 18th November.
The police also explained that they had to increase their personnel at Alavanyo – a security zone – due to another festival there. To that end, they asked the protesters to put on hold their protest until further notice.
However, earlier this week, they started mobilising to stage the protest last Thursday. The police had no option than to resort to the court.
The court also summoned the leaders of the group to appear in court last Friday, 16th November, 2018. The turn of events infuriated the drivers who then staged the protest.
Mr. Teddy Ofori noted that although the protesters had a right to protest, disregarding the directive of the police was uncalled for. He promised that the assembly and the police would engage the unions to ensure peace and calmness in the area.
He urged the people to exercise restraint and look up to the government because the Eastern Corridor road had been budgeted for in the 2019 Budget presented by Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
From Fred Duodu, Hohoe (k.duodu@yahoo.com)