THE Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) has renewed a contract it awarded to Universal Redeemer Limited for another year following its successful performance at checking overloading of haulage trucks at the Tema Motorway weighbridge station.

GHA first awarded the contract to Universal Redeemer Limited in July last year at a national competitive bidding for one year owing to the dismal performance of its own officials.

The privatization could enforce the permissible axle limits for loading trucks using the motorway. The contract was subject to renewal based on the successful performance of Universal Redeemer Limited. Since the privatization, there had been a number of arrests and prosecution of offending heavy-duty truck drivers who exceeded the permissible axle limit of weight and height of trucks which are 11.5 tons and (mention the permissible height of loaded trucks) respectively.

In an interview, Ofori Frimpong, Principal Engineer of GHA said hitherto offending drivers went unchecked because they bought their way out.

He stated that overloading of trucks is known to cause extensive damage to the roads, and constitutes a source of danger to other road users.

Mr. Frimpong indicated that trucks, mostly from the land-locked countries, break down frequently due to faults developed as a result of overloading, adding that most of them break down after leaving the weighbridge checkpoint.

Occasionally, some of these trucks are found turned over mostly on the Accra-Kumasi road, he concluded.

Mr. Frimpong stated that if a truck which is supposed to carry about 10 tons carries 20 tons, the effect on the road is equated to 16 trucks passing on it.

Speaking on the performance of the privatization, the Highway engineer who is also Axle load Manager, said there had been a dramatic increase in the number of overloaded trucks whose drivers were processed for court, most of whom the Highway engineer said had been prosecuted and fined even though the fines are not deterrent enough.

He said owing to the new measure at the weighbridge station, most heavy-duty truck drivers have resorted to using the Nungua beach road or other unapproved routes to avoid being caught and prosecuted for overloading.

The Nungua beach road, which was constructed many years ago, is in a deplorable condition which is worsening by the day because it has exceeded its designed lifespan and therefore poses a threat to motorists.

The Department of Urban Roads says it would require over US $40 million to reconstruct the 22-kilometer road from the Independence Square in Accra to the Tema Harbour Roundabout with an interchange at the Nungua barrier.

GHA says weighbridge platforms are being constructed on the Nungua beach road and the Spintex road, which will have lesser axle load limits than the transit ones. This measure is to encourage heavy-duty truck drivers to use the Tema Motorway which has a higher axle-load limit.

Investigations conducted last year by this reporter revealed that weighbridges constructed in various parts of the country to ensure that trucks keep to the permissible load weights were not serving their purpose due to alleged corrupt practices of GHA officials.

Instead of making overloaded trucks off-load the excess goods and have the drivers prosecuted, the officials allegedly extorted between GH¢10. 00 and GH¢40. 00 and left the offending drivers off the hook.

At the Tema Motorway axle load control station alone, it was estimated that these officials collected about GH¢50,000 in bribes from an estimated 500 truckers who used the station daily.

This reporter obtained first hand information about these corrupt practices when he embarked upon a trip from Team Harbour to Ouagadougou and back.

Consequently, GHA officials who were manning the weighbridge station on the Tema Motorway were recalled to the main office after a publication in the Ghanaian Times last year that they were allegedly misconducting themselves by extorting monies from drivers.

The Chief Executive Officer of Universal Redeemer Ltd, Albert Owusu-Ansah said despite the fact that he is faced with some challenges in enforcing the legal axle-load limit, he would remain focused in the discharge of his duty.

He said would ensure that the investments made by government and its developing partners yield the expected dividends.

Mr. Owusu-Ansah therefore pleaded with all heavy-duty truck drivers to comply with the directive of ensuring that the permissible axle load limit is adhered to, saying the road is a national asset which must be protected.