26-07-2011
Drivers plying in and out of the Bolgatanga Municipality including commuters were yesterday morning obstructed for hours at the Bolgatanga Axle load station. This is because drivers of some long cargo trucks had deliberately blocked the main ECOWAS trunk road to register their displeasure about what they claim as exorbitant toll fees being charged by workers manning the toll booth. The irate articulator truck drivers, as early as 7 am had parked their trucks across the road making it impossible for other vehicles to ply the road. Their action was backed by some commercial drivers as they refuse to leave the roads despite heavy security presence. According to the drivers, until authorities come out with a fair and affordable toll rate, nothing will stop them from protesting against the management of the Axle load station. They also demanded that those in charge of the booth be sacked and replaced with competent personnel who are transparent and friendly to work with them without any hindrance. Private vehicles including passengers on board the Metro Mass Transport among GPRTU buses waged their anger and frustration on the matter , while students and pupils who were coming to Bolgatanga from nearby villages to attend school had to alight from their buses and taxis to walk or pay for another transport service to get to their respective schools. Some of the aggrieved drivers who spoke to Radio Ghana, explained that toll charges slapped on them for over loading, were above the approved rate instituted by the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and they did not understand why the Management of the Bolgatanga Axle Load weighing Station was not as lenient as other Axle weighing Station Operators, along the same ECOWAS Trunk road, in other regions. Officials they claim charge between GH¢300 and GH¢900 Ghana Cedis for overloading. The drivers among other complaints claimed that it was wrong for trucks carrying food stuff to be detained because if the drivers are unable to pay the penalty for over loading, the foodstuff would get rotten. The drivers also alleged that they are not issued with tickets when they pay tolls at the Bridge and although they had complained to the Highway Authority and some government officials had had talks with the manageress, all their efforts had proved futile. When contacted, the Manageress of the Bolgatanga axle load station, Elizabeth Alhassan Batong said she has not violated any of the laws and conditions assigned by the Ghana Highway Authority to govern the operation of the Weighing Station. According to her, the action of the drivers she believes was perpetuated by some unpatriotic personalities in the region, to cow her to compromise and allow incessant over loading on the road. She took the opportunity to advice drivers to abide and stick to the Axle load regulations to avoid being penalized because monies paid as penalties could be used to service their vehicles when they develop faults. The Director In Charge of Road Safety and Environment at the Ghana Highways Authority, Joe-Fred Peseo also in a telephone interview said in as much as the Ghana Highways Authority trusts the competence and efficiency of the various Managements of the Weighing Stations, there are measures to ensure that, bribery and extortion of money at the Weighing Stations are minimized drastically if not curbed. It took the intervention of the Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo to convince the irate drivers to remove their trucks off the road and urged them to exercise restraint while measures are be put in place to check any corrupt practice as they claim.
GBC END IA/
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