Petroleum tanker drivers have begun their sit-down strike today over the deteriorating condition of the 7.2-kilometre Valco Roundabout-Kpone Junction road in Tema.
According to the Petroleum tanker drivers, the poor state of the road poses serious safety risks as they transport highly inflammable petroleum products.
The National Chairman of the Union, George Nyawunu, noted that although a contractor is currently on site, progress on the rehabilitation works has been slow.
The drivers argued that the deteriorating road is not only affecting their operations but also increasing the risks associated with transporting petroleum products.
Speaking to Citi News, George Nyawunu stated, “Given the high concentration of volatile materials in the area, stakeholders caution that the entire Tema township and its surrounding communities are effectively sitting on a potential time bomb if the infrastructure is not urgently addressed”, he said.
He highlighted that the drivers have been forced to take action because the road has become increasingly dangerous.
Earlier, the National Chairman of the Ghana Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union, George Nyaunu, expressed concern about the prolonged deterioration of the road and questioned how long authorities expect contractors to take to complete the project.
The drivers argue that their concerns go beyond inconvenience because they transport highly inflammable petroleum products along the route.
They say the poor road increases the risk of accidents involving tankers, with potentially devastating consequences for motorists, residents and businesses in the area.
According to the drivers, roads used to transport petroleum products from Tema to destinations including Takoradi, Kumasi and Buipe are also in poor condition.
Meanwhile, the Valco-Kpone road is heavily used by tankers, container trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles.
Its deteriorating condition has severely affected traffic flow, with vehicles forced to manoeuvre around deep potholes and damaged sections.
Some trucks frequently break down along the stretch, further reducing the already limited road space.
Motorists say the resulting congestion has become unbearable.
A journey that should take less than 30 minutes can now take more than three hours when traffic builds up.
Drivers also complain that the condition of the road is damaging vehicles and increasing the frequency with which they have to replace tyres, suspension components and other spare parts.
The situation becomes particularly difficult after rainfall, when water collects in potholes and makes it difficult for motorists to determine their depth.
The road is not an ordinary residential route. It serves one of Ghana’s most important industrial and petroleum corridors.
Major companies and facilities located along the stretch include the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO), Tema Tank Farm, Quantum Oil, Chase Petroleum, Olam, Aluworks, Sunon Asogli Power Plant and the Kpone Thermal Power Station, as well as several warehouses and other industrial establishments.
The corridor is therefore critical to the movement of petroleum products, industrial materials and commercial cargo.
Thousands of litres of petroleum products are transported through the area, making the road particularly important to Ghana’s fuel distribution network.
A prolonged disruption to the route could consequently affect businesses and the movement of petroleum products to other parts of the country.
@ghnow_ Tanker Drivers Association Announces Planned Sit-Down Strike on Wednesday #GHnow #FixValcoKponeRoad #fyp ♬ original sound – GHnow
@ghnow_ Two of my car tires are destroyed because of the road – Tanker Driver #GHnow #FixValcoKponeRoad #fyp ♬ original sound – Khwabina_Jhunior_The_Blogger🍁
@ghnow_ The deplorable state of Tema Valco Roundabout in to TOR road #GHNow #fyp #FixValcoKponeRoad ♬ original sound – NDCMUSICHQ
