Aflao, Jan. 19, GNA - The Aflao/Denu portion of the Accra/Aflao highway would be expanded into a dual-carriageway, Mr. Alex Segbefia, Deputy Chief of Staff, has said.

"The dual-carriage would not pass through the beach again", he said.

Mr. Segbefia was addressing hundreds of residents of the Ketu South District, led by the Aflao Youth Association (AYA), who undertook a three-hour street demonstration to press their demand for the government not divert the planned dual-carriage by beach. The group, numbering about 500 who began the demonstration from the border to Denu, blocked traffic during the period and were stopped by the police from continuing to the District Assembly offices. They finally returned to Viepe, agreed originally with the police as the final point and presented their petition.

They carried placard, some of which read: "No dual-carriage through the sea", "No dual-carriage no vote", "We are tired of the dust", "Demolish those houses to pave way for the road" and "Remember the World Bank or else calamity".

Mr. Segbefia said he personally represented the government in seeking the views of the people in the area on the options available at various meetings with the people since October last year and the recent one last Thursday.

"The Government is a listening one and would not ignore your views over this issue", Mr. Segbefia said.

He asked them to excise restraint as owners of property supposed to be demolished for the job were notified and compensation paid to them to pave way for work to start. Mr. Segbefia also assured them the Ghana Highway Authority and the firm handling the project would be asked to regularly water the road to reduce the dust.

Mr. Javis Coffie, AYA Secretary and Spokesman, in the petition to the authorities said the rising population of Aflao and its status as the country's gateway demanded the dual-carriage to uplift the town, saying the beach side diversion was unpopular with them "We want the expanded road only through the town and not the beach as it shall be washed away by the sea", Mr. Koffie said. He said the road would facilitate economic development, improve the image of the country and accommodate the growing vehicular traffic. A town hall meeting on January 12, this year at Denu, where Mr. Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways announced the diversion, was greeted with protest.