Battor Youth Launch GH₵10 Road Toll

Some youth groups at Battor in the North Tongu District in the Volta Region have announced that, effective as of November 4, 2022, all heavy-duty trucks that use the town roads to carry trips of sand to Tema and other destinations for construction works will be charged GH₵10 as toll.

The “Concerned Groups of Fix The Town Roads” group, in a letter addressed to the authorities, said the levy will be used for maintenance works on the roads, such as, “reshape, sweep sand on the main street and embark on spot improvements on the town roads.”

In theletter, copied the District Chief Executive (DCE) for North Tongu, the Police Commander, the Battor Traditional Council and all sand winners, the group explained that it has taken note of the continuous damage being caused to the town roads as a result of the activities of these heavy-duty trucks, hence the decision for their initiative.

“We the Concerned Group of Fix the Town Roads and Make the Street Clean wish to inform your noble office that, the above Group emanating from various concerned groups within Battor, such as Battor River Sand winners Group, Battor Citizens Development Association, and BANEWC wish to inform you that, from 4th of November, 2022 we will start collecting ten Ghana (GH₵10.00) toll from all heavy duty trucks conveying sand from Battor traditional area to Accra and within the Town for the purpose of the above subject.”

“Furthermore, we the citizens of Battor from the various Groups have taken notice of the continuous damages the activities of the heavy-duty trucks do cause our roads, which sometimes render some parts unmotorable. The continuous spreading of sand on the Major Road which blurred the nature of the tarred road and makes it look like untarred,” the group said.

The youth, from Battor River Sand Winners, Battor Neighbourhood Watch Committee and the Battor Citizens Development Association, among others, said, in the past, “we the citizens of Battor so concerned with the menace, do organize ourselves to sweep, in order to give the town some level of cleanlines .We always do this by bearing the cost involved on our own and donations from other concerns citizens.”

As a result, they further said, “We have therefore resolve to humbly notify your good office for our intention to collect Ten Ghana Cedis (GH₵ 10) toll from all sand conveying vehicles to help; Reshape and improve on sections of the damage roads, embark on spot improvement on the inner town roads, Procure Equipment for continuous cleaning and sweeping of the main road in a regular interval, Provide logistics to Battor Neighbourhood Watch Committee (BANEWC) and any other official project that may benefit the whole traditional area as whole.”

The group, which also includes some prominent entrepreneurs and businessmen from the area, such as Mr. Nicholas K. Bordeha, said, “We have resolved that, this is the only alternative means to provide solution to the damage caused by these trucks and also calm our member’s anger and give them some assurance rather than we raising to stop the sand winning activities as a whole.”

 Source: Anchorghana