Tarkwa youth threaten another demo against government over Tamso-Wassa Agona bad road

The Executives of the Concerned Citizens of Tarkwa-Nsuaem (CCT) in the Western Region have vowed to stage another mammoth demonstration against government over the poor nature of the Tamso-Wassa Agona road.

According to the group, the bad nature of the road has recorded 58,022 respiratory tract infections and sicknesses caused by the thick dust and dirt from the deplorable road.

Over hundred angry residents of the area on Wednesday, April 10, blocked the main road, set ablaze car tyres in the middle of the road and prevented vehicles from moving in and out of the municipality for more than five hours.

They were clad in red bands and chanted war songs claiming the situation has rendered business to a standstill in the area.

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Amoako Atta granted an interview on Adom FM indicating that demonstration does not construct road.

He further urged the residents to remain calm as government was working tirelessly to fix their deplorable road.

But after the Minister's assurances, the situation has become worst and terrible with residents living along the roads have to battle with dust.

Addressing the media at Ahwetieso, the leadership of the group expressed their disappointment over government failure to work on the 4-kilometre Tamso to Wassa Agona stretch after the two weeks ultimatum elapsed.

"Dear citizens, not quite long ago, we demonstrated and gave 2weeks ultimatum of which we thought by then leadership might have considered our plea and sealed the road stretching from Tamso to Wassa Agona (4km stretch) such that we will not add unto already existed alarming figure (58, 022) recorded last year of having been diagnosed with Respiratory Tract Infection diseases as well as the countless number of shops and businesses that have been closed down because of the dust pollution at hand", the group lamented.

They added that "However, we were disappointed by authorities. To the extent that we were told “demonstration does not construct road” be it or not, its’ a mere expression of thought or view, therefore, time will tell."

The irate youth continued, "Brothers and sisters, press men and women gathered here, aside the main purpose of the road which is to make journeys to and fro; ours is also serving as a haulage road for Bauxite Company at Awaso and Ghana Manganese Company at Nsuta to haul their products to Takoradi Habour for export. Fellow citizens, our investigation reveals that there are about 310 trucks plying the road every blessed day from Awaso to Takoradi Habour to offload bauxite".

Read the full statement below

CONCERNED CITIZENS OF TARKWA NSUAEM

Motto: We Care For Tarkwa Nsuaem’s Development.

On behalf of the executives and the entire members of CONCERNED CITIZENS OF TARKWA NSUAEM, we welcome all of you to this important gathering, here in Ahwetieso.
As usual, we are here to raise few concerns such that those who matter will take notice of those concerns seriously.

Dear citizens, not quite long ago, we demonstrated and gave 2weeks ultimatum of which we thought by then leadership might have considered our plea and sealed the road stretching from Tamso to Wassa Agona (4km stretch) such that we will not add unto already existed alarming figure (58, 022) recorded last year of having been diagnosed with Respiratory Tract Infection diseases as well as the countless number of shops and businesses that have been closed down because of the dust pollution at hand.

However, we were disappointed by authorities. To the extent that we were told “demonstration does not construct road” be it or not, its’ a mere expression of thought or view therefore time will tell.

Brothers and sisters, press men and women gathered here, aside the main purpose of the road which is to make journeys to and fro; ours is also serving as a haulage road for Bauxite Company at Awaso and Ghana Manganese Company at Nsuta to haul their products to Takoradi Habour for export. Fellow citizens, our investigation reveals that there are about 310 trucks plying the road every blessed day from Awaso to Takoradi Habour to offload bauxite.

Again, our search with GMC also reveals that there are about 450 trucks plying the road every day from Nsuta to Takoradi Habour to deposit manganese. Therefore mathematically, we have about 760 trucks plying the road for haulage purposes every day. We have not talked of articulators carrying cocoa beans, timbers, various mining machinery and equipment that are sent unto the mine as well as public and private vehicles plying the road.

With the above analysis, it's clear that the road is under very severe pressure of which is never our making and therefore we cannot be made to suffer the consequence. We are aware that the whole stretch from Tarkwa to Takoradi is bad however we are so much concerned about only the 4km stretch from Tamso?Bankyim? Akyempim?Ahwetieso ?Wassa Agona which has been neglected by the contractor.

We are saying that our people are dying because of the dust; our people are in total hardship because shops and businesses have been closed down due to the dust and for that matter, we cannot sit without showing any concern.

We want to inform authorities by this press conference that we are mobilizing ten (10) or more communities or towns this time round for another massive demonstration till ‘demonstration construct road’

Thank You.

SAMUEL KWASI ASARE

SECRETARY