New Takoradi, Sept. 30, GNA - The youth of New Takoradi a suburb of Takoradi on Tuesday blocked the main access road from the area to Takoradi, thereby preventing several articulated trucks from either leaving or coming to the area.

Over 40 trucks belonging to the Ghana Cement Works, Takoradi Flour Mills, Ghana Manganese, Ghana bauxite, Ankrak and Takoradi Port, all carrying various products were stranded, including commercial vehicles and individuals who were moving from New Takoradi to Takoradi. The action of the youths, according to Mr. Tony Amissah, Vice Chairman of the New Takoradi Concerned Citizens, was heightened on the morning of September 28, when residents woke up to realise that large quantities of limestone had been spilled on the main road, as it was being conveyed to the Takoradi Port.

He said the usage of the road by heavy duty trucks sent dust to the township and made breathing difficult. He said to stop the people from further suffering, the youths, used stones, wooden planks, disused car tyres and other abandoned metals to block the road causing severe traffic from the New Takoradi Slaughter House Roundabout towards the Takoradi Harbour and the Paa Grant Roundabout. At around 1100 hours when the situation got worse, the Western Regional Police Commander Hamidu Mahama accompanied by about 15 other Policemen arrived on the scene and used dialogue and diplomacy to explain to the angry youth the importance of the road and the consequences of actions.

Bishop Retired Andrew Okoh, Regional Peace Promotion Officer and Mr. Kwaku Aggrey, Chairman of the Regional Peace Promotion Council also arrived on the scene and helped to explain the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanism to the youth.

The youths later agreed when Mr. Emmanuel Botchway, a shipping agent for Carmeuse lime products, in the company of some of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority assured the community that water would be sprinkled on the road to reduce the effect of the dust and also use manganese to refill potholes on the road to make it motorable.