781 Potholes on Tema-Aflao highway

Motorists plying the Tema-Aflao highway which was constructed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are fuming with anger over what they say is government’s negligence resulting in dangerous potholes along the road, Today has gathered.

According to the aggrieved motorists, the state of the Tema-Aflao highway, particularly along the stretch from Sege, Ada Junction, Vume, Tefle, Sogakoge, Dambala Junction, Agbakope, Akatsi, Agbozume, Afife, Akatsi and Aflao can be described as “criminal negligence” of the highest order on the part of government which is responsible for its maintenance.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government upon assumption of office served notice that it was going to undertake major repair works on the Tema-Aflao highway.

That promise, according to them, was part of the reasons for the toll hikes in the year 2010, but to date the only attempt at fulfilling that promise by the NDC government, Today can affirm, was the filling of the gaping holes with bitumen.

Today on Saturday, December 19, 2015 during its investigations counted as many as 781 potholes on the Tema-Aflao highway.

On that highway Today found out that Sege to Sogakope stretch of the highway had a total of 393 potholes, whiles Sogakope-Akatsi had a total of 388.

Besides, Today counted as many as 147 exposed iron rods, protruding from the concrete road, posing grave danger to motorists.

Our reporter also counted 85 potholes that were filled with bitumen from Ada Junction to Tefle and Sogakope to Dambala, which according to civil engineers, was not the right material for filling a pothole on a concrete road.

Some drivers who to spoke to Today complained that they had seen many vehicles burst their tyres on the stretch of concrete paved road interspersed with dangerous potholes, several of them with disastrous consequences.

A plumber stationed Dambala-Sogakope, Mr. Kofi Nyamedi, disclosed that on the average seven cars burst their tyres in a week on the Tema-Aflao highway.

And having worked along the highway for some years now, he recounted that bursting of vehicle tyres was very common and has been the cause of numerous accidents.

According to him, most of the drivers who were unaware of the potholes were victims of these accidents.

"Upon seeing a pothole they try to avoid it and as a result they lose control of the steer and veer off the road,” Mr. Nyamedi said.

Mr. Nayamedi noted that there has been numerous accidents on the highway which he thought could have been avoided if the potholes had been fixed.

And against the fact that government rakes in an estimated GHC30 million from tolls and another GHC20 million in vehicle user fees annually, the motorists contended that the roads deserved better rehabilitation works.