Aflao (V/R)-Ghana, Aug. 4, GNA – Repair works are currently ongoing on the Aflao Diamond Cement Road.
This followed persistent calls by residents and road users on the Ketu South Municipal Assembly and the Diamond Cement Factory to get the road fixed.
The road, which has been described by many as “a death trap” had been in a deplorable state for close to a decade, developing deep gullies which made it unmotorable during the rainy season.
Several accidents have been recorded on the road resulting in the maiming and loss of lives.
The numerous accidents led to street protests by the residents, who lamented that successive governments have failed to pay attention to their plight despite the fact that trucks from the Diamond Cement Factory ply the road every minute making it one of the busiest roads in the Volta Region.
The 3.5km road links the main Aflao town through the Diamond Cement Factory to other communities including Duta, Agbawoeme, Gakli, Akporkploe and several others along the Ghana-Togo border.
Mr Maxwell Kofi Lugudor, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu South, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the Assembly after several meetings and discussions, was collaborating with the management of the factory to embark on the resurfacing of the road “while we work towards securing funding for the proper construction of the road in the future, as it has really become an eye sore.”
He said funding of the repair works was being borne by the Assembly and the factory.
“We are embarking on this project together with the factory to put the road in a better shape – we believe this will help reduce, if not prevent the numerous accidents recorded on the road in recent times,” Mr Lugudor said.
The MCE advised all motorists and pedestrians who use the road to be cautious while driving or walking on the road to prevent accidents going forward.
Mr Pascal Defor, Assistant Commercial Manager of Diamond Cement Factory told me GNA that the deplorable state of the road was really taking a toll on the activities of the factory adding that the numerous accidents witnessed on the road was also a factor necessitating the repair works.
He said the factory was losing its clients to other competitors as the bad nature of the road was turning them away.
Mr Defor commended the Ketu South Municipal Assembly for providing the technical and logistical support towards the project and assured of the factory’s preparedness to continue to collaborate with the Assembly in any way possible to get the road permanently constructed.