Drivers propose midnight movement for sanitation trucks over safety concerns

Commercial drivers at Accra Circle have expressed worries over sanitation trucks transporting refuse from Agbogbloshie to disposal sites in the Eastern Region. The drivers fear these trucks, operating without police escorts on busy roads, could pose a serious risk to other road users. Some of the trucks are using one-way routes and driving against oncoming traffic, posing a risk of head-on collisions.

These concerns come after President John Dramani Mahama's directive for waste evacuation from Agbogbloshie to the Adipa Engineered Landfill Site near Nsawam. The evacuation, led by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs with the help of the Ghana Armed Forces and District Road Improvement Project, is funded by the Ministry of Finance and District Assemblies Common Fund.

Drivers questioned the decision to allow trucks to operate on busy roads without escorts, especially during peak traffic hours. They called for midnight or late-night movement of the trucks to reduce accident risks and traffic disruptions. The drivers also urged for police escorts and proper traffic management whenever trucks have to move against normal traffic flow.

They believe safety should be prioritized over waste evacuation, and suggest scheduling trucks' movement during low-traffic periods to minimize risks and congestion. Attempts to obtain responses from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs regarding the drivers' concerns were unsuccessful.