Commuters on the Tarkwa–Bogoso–Samahu road on the morning of June 5 endured hours of inconvenience after what they described as an unannounced and poorly coordinated road project by officials purportedly from the Ghana Highways Authority, left them stranded for several hours.
Motorists and passengers travelling from both ends of the road encountered five young men erecting rumble strips on the road. According to commuters, unlike previous exercises of this nature where advance notices are issued to alert road users, no such communication was made.
They further complained that there were no warning signs placed along the road to caution motorists, nor were there security personnel present to manage traffic and ensure the smooth flow of vehicles.
Members of the Western Regional Press Corps, who were travelling to Damang for an assignment, were caught in the traffic congestion for nearly two hours. Eventually, they were forced to use a detour, which added another hour to their journey.
Motorists who frequently use the Tarkwa–Bogoso–Samahu stretch expressed frustration, describing the conduct of the workers as “completely shameful and lawless.”
“On a normal day, it takes about 15 minutes to traverse this stretch. However, I have been here for close to two hours, and the workers are not prepared to create a passage for vehicles while they continue with their work. Given the long tailback, I expected them to show some remorse, but they appear unconcerned and speak with an aura of authority. Our patience is wearing thin,” a frustrated taxi driver said.
Other road users questioned the timing of the works and wondered who authorised the exercise during peak traffic hours. “Anyone who plies this road knows it is one of the busiest stretches in the area. What feasibility assessment was done before these workers were deployed? What prevented them from carrying out the work at night or perhaps on a Sunday? There are no warning signs, no security personnel—nothing. This is completely uncoordinated,” a passenger remarked.
Tensions reportedly escalated to the point where some aggrieved passengers threatened to attack the workers. However, the intervention of a police officer who happened to be passing through the area helped to prevent any confrontation.
Officials at the Western Regional Office of the Ghana Highways Authority were unavailable for comment. However, a source at the office alleged that the workers may have come from Accra, as regional officials were reportedly unaware of any ongoing project to erect rumble strips on that section of the road.
Due to the workers’ insistence that no vehicle be allowed to cross the newly constructed rumble strips, passengers were compelled to disembark, walk across the affected section, and board other vehicles on the opposite side to continue their journeys.
At the time of filing this report, the situation remained unchanged. Some commuters warned that continued delays and the perceived disregard by the workers could provoke angry passengers into attacking the workers or destroying the rumble strips.
By Eric Yaw Adjei
