Drivers in Hohoe, particularly taxi drivers, have complained bitterly about the deplorable nature of their roads.
The roads, which have potholes, have made commuting in the municipality challenging and discomfiting.
A driver Kekeli Ampotia, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, said the road is very bad. It is not potholes; it is full of manholes and gullies.”
Kekeli and his colleagues therefore called on the Municipal assembly and the government to, as a matter of urgency, come to their aid to enhance movement in the town.
He said the bad roads normally lead to the frequent breakdown of their vehicles and high cost of maintenance.
Monday’s strike
As a result of the deplorable nature of the roads in Hohoe, the taxi drivers, numbering over 300, parked their vehicles, filled the potholes and repaired other bad portions of some of the roads.
The strike, which occurred on Monday, 25th, 2016 a market day, left several commuters stranded.
Others also walked to work as the taxi drivers abandoned their vehicles to repair the road.
“We embarked on the communal labour after several pleas fell on deaf ears, whenever we complain they say we should wait for the eastern corridor road. We have waited for over seven years and so we decided to do it ourselves.”
He said they focused on the main Accra- Hohoe Road from Akpadu through the lorry station to Zongo, adding that they collected a minimum of GH¢1 from each driver to buy sand and gravels to undertake the project.
Mr Ampotia disclosed that the taxi drivers were bent on embarking on a massive demonstration in the near future if the Hohoe township roads remain the same.
Complaints of residents
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Peter Abomah, joined the drivers in the exercise to save face.
Residents, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, also bemoaned the bad roads in the area.
One of them, Esther Ansah said “apart from being full of gullies, during the dry season it becomes very dusty and very muddy during the rainy season.
“We have to pay more for taxi fares since the drivers’ dread commuting in those areas.
“I pay GH¢5.00 instead of GH¢1.50 to my house because of the bad nature of the road,” she narrated.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)