Petroleum tanker drivers begin sit-down strike over Tema road conditions

Petroleum tanker drivers have initiated a sit-down strike due to the poor condition of the 7.2-kilometre Valco Roundabout-Kpone Junction road in Tema. They claim that the deteriorating road poses significant safety risks, especially since they transport highly flammable petroleum products along this route. The drivers argue that the road's poor state not only impacts their operations but also escalates the dangers associated with transporting petroleum products in the Tema enclave.

Despite a contractor working on the road, the drivers assert that the rehabilitation progress has been excruciatingly slow, which led them to resort to industrial action over the dangerous situation they describe. National Chairman of the Union, George Nyawunu, disclosed to Citi FM that the drivers were compelled to take this step because the road has become increasingly hazardous.

The concern is further amplified by the fact that the area is home to several petroleum storage depots, housing millions of liters of fuel and LPG. Nyawunu emphasized that the potential danger is particularly acute given the high concentration of volatile materials in the area, suggesting that the entire Tema township and its surrounding communities are effectively living on a ticking time bomb unless the infrastructure issues are urgently addressed.