Amoako-Atta inspecting the ongoing road project with the tanker drivers and engineers
Members of the Ghana National Petroleum Drivers Union and the Gas Tanker Drivers Union have lauded the government for the ongoing reconstruction of the road from the VALCO roundabout, which connects the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to Kpone.
The road is being rebuilt following a nationwide strike announced by tanker drivers on June 27, 2023, stating that the road had become impassable, posing a risk to them.
National Chairman, of the Union, George Nyaunu, said the road was important to the nation as it serves eight terminal depots with over 3,500 tankers plying the route to supply the country’s petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG).
“We are delighted that our strike action has borne fruit, and we salute the Minister of Roads and Highways and the government in general for the swift response,” he stated during an inspection tour of the road with the Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Atta and his lieutenants.
“We are essential drivers and it is important for the government to pay attention to us all the time. Petroleum products have no legs. It is drivers who carry them to all parts of the country,” he asserted.
Union General Secretary, Raymond Aflo said they had seen the progress of work on the road and praised the government for a job well done, while urging for similar actions on the Takoradi, Kumasi and Bupie areas.
Mohammed Shafu, National Chairman of the Gas Tanker Drivers Union, and Martin Asare, Chairman of the GOIL Tanker Drivers Union, pledged their members’ support and cooperation in light of the government’s goodwill and commitment to developing the road.
Road Completion
Mr. Amoako-Atta pledged that work would continue until the road was finished, and that it was being constructed as an asphalt-concrete road.
“It will not be limited to this Kpone Katamanso enclave. We are also looking at other deports across the country, especially Takoradi, Kumasi and Bupie,” he noted.
The Minister also expressed gratitude to the tanker drivers for their collaboration and support to the government and the contractor, Joshob Construction Limited, which he regarded as one of the best in the country.
“Within 10 days, I am impressed with the work done. I am not surprised because this project is being undertaken by one of our competent contractors, Joshob Construction Limited.
“Now that the surface of the road is smoothing, with the tackling of the depressed areas and other sectional repairs, the tanker drivers are assured of a smooth driving experience to avert any danger,” he intimated.
“This road, which is being worked on, will have a crash-based surface to make it strong because of the weight of the tankers,” he says, adding, “this will give the contractor the needed time to do the real earthworks.”
Resident Engineer, Ing. Edward Annang, stated that all of the depressed places with pools of water have been sorted out. We filled them with the appropriate filling materials.
“We have been able to remove all the bad areas from the shoulders of the road and replace them with good materials. The aim is to transfer the traffic onto the shoulders of the road so as to start with the main works,” he told the minister while giving a brief report of the status of work.
By Ernest Kofi Adu