General News of Wednesday, 14 September 2016

Source: atinkaonline.com

Tension in Ketu South as Dangote truck crashes motorist

File photo File photo

There is unrest in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region following the death of one Michael Kumi who crashed by a huge truck belonging to Dangote Cement .

The situation has become so intense as commuters and motorists have expressed grave concern about the reckless parking by Dangote drivers at both shoulders of the Denu-Tokor highway in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region.

Sources tell Atinkaonline that some two other motor riders have also crashed into the parked vehicles because there were no warning indications. The victims, Atinkaonline learnt are in critical conditions at the hospital.

This reporter visited the area on Saturday and can confirm that hundreds of the cement-loaded haulage trucks had parkked both sides of the Denu-Tokor and the Tokor-Laklevikofe-Akame highway, a clear disregard of the National Road Safety Act.

Indications were that the truck drivers left no warning signs that could caution unsuspecting vehicles as well commuters- this obviously led to the death of Micheal Kumi and the two injured motorists.

In an earlier interview, former Presiding Member , Mr. Samuel Petit Haligah told Atinka News that it escapes logic how the police arrest local drivers over such recklessness but have turned a blind eye to the lawlessness being perpetuated by the Dangote cement truck drivers. “It looks like there is a higher power behind this recklessness. It is as if there is different law for foreign businessmen and local business men.”

Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Pascal Lamptey said the issue is a great security threat in the municipality and his outfit is in talks with the company to find a parking space for their trucks. He assured that after a week (6th September), the trucks will be cleared of the road.


Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Dangote Cement Gh. Mr. Etornam Kombla, reacting to the accusations, said his outfit is unaware of the double parking of the trucks.

“None of our trucks engage in double parking in the area.” He also denied knowledge of inability of the truck drivers to show proper indication, has resulted in the death of a motorist.

However, a visit to the municipality on Saturday showed that contrary to the PRO’s comments, the trucks are parked on both sides of the road for days.

One of the drivers told Atinkaonline in an interview that he wasn’t sure of when the trucks will be moved . “We have been here for two days and we are still waiting for the officers to come and discharge us. He also said he doesn’t know who is in charge of drivers and that they were on their own”.

A visit to the late Micheal Kumi’s residence was a very sad spectacle; his wife is also a nursing mother. She told Atinkaonline that her deceased husband catered for some members of the extended family and that they are now hopeless because their benefactor is no more .

She called on the government to come to their aid also ensure that Dangote Cement abide by the road laws to prevent further death.