On Friday, commuters on the Takoradi-Tarkwa route endured a harrowing encounter due to flooding on a portion of the road close to Saint Mary Boys Senior High School.
George Folley reported from Takoradi that in order to board trucks to Takoradi, they were forced to walk for more than an hour while wading through flooded terrain from Beahu to Apremdo.
Commuters treacherously navigated the flooded areas to reach their destinations under the day's nonstop rain, with some of them carrying their bags on their heads and under their armpits.
Due to the pandemonium, even school buses carrying children got trapped in it, and some of the kids started to get upset as their trip home was delayed.
To prevent any possible injury, parents and volunteers intervened by picking up kids and carrying them across the "temporary river" on their backs. Additionally, these committed volunteers led commuters across perilous sections of the highway.
Hundreds of vehicles were trapped because they were unable to move through the inundated region due to the road's poor state, which resembled deep gullies. It was understandable that drivers were reluctant to travel through the perilous waters for fear of getting washed away.
Some commuters, like this writer, George Folley, decided it was their responsibility to advise the drivers on how to avoid getting carried away by the surging floodwaters.
Some of the locals were spotted attempting to retrieve items as they made their way through the floodwaters to get to their houses. Commuters have developed a terrible reputation for the Saint Mary Boys Senior High School region as a flood-prone location during the rainy season.
The poor road conditions made it impossible to travel from Takoradi to other areas of the Western Region, notably Tarkwa, Sefwi Wiawso, Elubo, Axim, and Atuabo.
Drivers were irate and vented their frustrations, blaming the poor condition of the road and the absence of a drainage system in the Apowa region for this ongoing issue.
They said that no major action has been taken to remedy the problem, despite several requests made through their transport unions.
To the dismay of the already irate passengers, several opportunistic drivers took advantage of the situation to demand outrageous charges.
Heize Karl, a German volunteer, expressed displeasure and hoped that solutions would be found to deal with this ongoing problem.
Since about a week ago, most of the Western Region has received tremendous rain, flooding many settlements, including Awusedjoe and Ayiem. Residents of Ewusedzoe were forced to seek refuge with family members living in higher elevations in low-lying regions close to the Butre River.
The Takoradi-Tarkwa road is in terrible condition, from the blocked intersection to Awusedjoe, with potholes that resemble deep gullies. Driving on a route that formerly gave the Western Region prestige required drivers to rely on their knowledge and abilities.
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