Commercial drivers operating in Ghana's Accra Circle have expressed concerns over the movement of sanitation trucks transporting refuse from Agbogbloshie in Accra to disposal sites in the Eastern Region. The drivers warn that the manner in which some of these trucks are being operated poses serious risks to other road users. They cite instances of trucks using one-way routes and driving against oncoming traffic without police escorts, which they believe could lead to head-on collisions and other accidents.
The concerns raised by the drivers follow President John Dramani Mahama's directive for the evacuation of accumulated waste at Agbogbloshie. The president recently commissioned the evacuation of waste heaps from Agbogbloshie to the Adipa Engineered Landfill Site near Nsawam in the Eastern Region. This exercise is being led by the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces and the District Road Improvement Project (DRIP), with funding from the Ministry of Finance and the District Assemblies Common Fund.
The commercial drivers question the decision to allow sanitation trucks to operate on busy roads without police escorts, particularly during periods of heavy traffic. They argue that the government must balance the urgency of removing the waste with the need to protect human lives. One driver emphasized that the government should prioritize human safety, stating that the risk of accidents and potential loss of life is too great if proper measures are not put in place.
In light of these concerns, the drivers propose that the sanitation trucks be moved at midnight or during other late-night hours when traffic volumes are relatively low. This, they believe, would reduce the risk of accidents and minimize traffic disruptions. They also appeal for police escorts and clear traffic management arrangements whenever the trucks have to use routes that require them to move against normal traffic flow.
The drivers stress that while the evacuation of accumulated waste is necessary, it should not be carried out in a manner that exposes motorists, pedestrians, and other road users to unnecessary danger. They support the exercise but emphasize that safety should come first. The authorities, they argue, should put proper arrangements in place so that the trucks can move without putting other road users at risk.
According to the drivers, scheduling the movement of sanitation trucks for midnight and other low-traffic periods would help reduce the risk of collisions, ease congestion, and allow the waste evacuation exercise to continue with minimal disruption to traffic. This proposal aims to ensure that the necessary waste removal is carried out while prioritizing road safety.
Adom TV attempted to obtain responses from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs on the concerns raised by the drivers and to clarify the arrangements guiding the movement of the sanitation trucks. However, attempts to reach the relevant authorities for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
Key points
- Commercial drivers in Ghana's Accra Circle propose moving sanitation trucks at midnight to reduce safety risks.
- The drivers raise concerns over trucks operating without police escorts and driving against oncoming traffic.
- The sanitation truck movement is part of President John Dramani Mahama's directive to evacuate accumulated waste at Agbogbloshie.
