Taxi drivers strike in Nsawam causing havoc

Nsawam, June 26, GNA - A strike by taxi drivers in Nsawam-Adoagyiri on Monday had compelled hundreds of farmers and rural dwellers to walk long distances with head loads of food items to the Nsawam market.

Residents of the twin towns, including teachers and school children and students had to endure walking long distances to their offices and schools.

Some of the farmers carried their headloads of foodstuffs from communities and villages such as Pakro, Gyankrom, Diadekye, Akwamu, Ahwerase, Daamang and Kofisam, with an average distance of five kilometres radius. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, the chairman of the local branch of the Taxi Drivers Union of the GPRTU, Mr Nathan Amoah, explained that the decision to embark on the strike was to protest against the deteriorated road networks in the towns and satellite communities.

According to him, despite constant complaints to the authorities over the years, no efforts were being made to rehabilitate the roads, leading to frequent breakdown of their vehicles and the attendant high maintenance cost to vehicle owners.

He mentioned some of the deplorable roads as the Pakro-Wofapaye Junction, Adamkatakyi-Adoagyiri-Asikafo-amantem and the Asikope-Gyankrom.

When contacted, the District Chief Executive for Akuapem South, Mr Andrews Nyarko-Adu, said the District Assembly, the Member of Parliament and the Department of Feeder Roads had been holding discussions to find effective solution to the road problem.

He appealed to the drivers to exercise patience and understanding while efforts were made to find a solution. Some of the farmers who talked to the GNA expressed concern about the ordeal they had to go through in conveying their foodstuffs to the market to sell to earn money to buy basic commodities for their families.

They hoped the authorities would act fast enough to find an early solution to the problem to save rural dwellers from hardships. 26 June 06