Street protest over poor Accra-Kasoa highway creates traffic gridlock

There was a heavy vehicular traffic gridlock on the Kasoa-Accra highway on Friday morning following a street protest by some residents over the poor nature of a section of the highway between Old Barrier and the Kasoa toll booth.

The Old Barrier and Kasoa toll booth section of the main highway that connects the Greater Accra Region to the Central Region becomes more difficult to use anytime it rains due to the large volumes of silt deposited on the road.

The situation is always life-threatening as flow of water drag vehicles, throwing passengers into danger.

It is based on this that the residents embarked on the street protest to draw attention to their plight and to demand that the authorities should fix the road.

Graphic Online’s Augustina Tawiah who was at the area on Friday morning reported that both vehicular and pedestrian movement from old barrier was at a standstill.

Passengers had to drop off from the vehicles that were commuting them to town and walk because the protestors had blocked the roads in all directions.

Dubbed, “Fix Kasoa highway”, the protesters mainly commercial trotro and taxi drivers were seen in red dresses dancing on the roads.

At Old Barrier, the protestors presented a petition to the Municipal Assembly.

Petition of Kasoa residents
A morning show host of Class Media Group, which is part of the organising team òf “Fix Kasoa Highway” street protest, Elaine Attoh, read the petition on behalf of the demonstrators.

He stated that they were responsible tax-paying citizens and could not fathom why there appeared to be a seeming total neglect of their plight.

“It becomes more than difficult to commute on the Kasoa-Accra highway anytime it rains due to the large volumes of silt deposited on the road. The situation is always life-threatening as flow of water drag vehicles, throwing passengers into danger. There are even cases where people have died as a result of the situation,” it said.

Why job loses at Kasoa enclave?
The petition said the numerous job loses and business collapse were matters that had become a serious concern for them considering the unfavourable economic situation.

They are therefore demanding an urgent fixing of the highway adding that, the economic contribution of the road to the Ghana could never be underestimated as it connects to several West African countries.

“It propels trade, business and commerce and must be a major priority to the government to maintain the road,” it said.

The petition was received on behalf of the assembly by the Municipal Engineer.