By Amoako Kwame
A group of tanker drivers operating on the Kpone-TOR Road have threatened to withdraw their services from Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in protest against the deplorable condition of the road.
The drivers, who spoke to the media, expressed frustration over the deteriorated state of the only road directly from the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) toward Kpone. The road which serves as a major road through the Tema industrial corridor, has been is a terrible state for years. The drivers warn that, the situation poses serious risks to their lives and other road users.
One of the concerned drivers questioned why governments fail to prioritise the route despite its strategic importance to Ghana’s petroleum industry.
“I don’t understand the reason why the government cannot prioritise this route. We have almighty TOR, we have Sentuo Oil Refinery, and all the oil depots are here. Look at the traffic on the road. We, the tanker drivers, have our lives at risk because when a tanker rolls over, the effects are enormous,” the driver said.
The driver stressed that tanker accidents could have far-reaching consequences, particularly because the vehicles often carry highly flammable petroleum products.
Critically important companies with national security implications, as well as economically strategic entities including the Asogli Power Plant are in that enclave, yet the road seems to receive little attention
The drivers warned that a tanker accident on the already congested and poorly maintained road could result in a serious and catastrophic tragedy even beyond national proportions. Any disaster on that road involving a fuel transporting tanker could result in not just fuel spillage, but fires and potentially devastating explosions which can threaten the nation’s security and adversely affect the economy, not just nearby communities, motorists and businesses there.
The Kpone-TOR Road is therefore not an ordinary route, but a critical artery in Ghana’s industrial, petroleum and energy set up.
Several strategically important companies and facilities are located along the stretch, including the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO), Tema Tank Farm, Quantum Oil, Chase Petroleum, Olam, Aluworks, the Sunon Asogli Power Plant and the Kpone Thermal Power Station. The area also hosts numerous warehouses and other industrial establishments.
The large volumes of petroleum transported through the area, makes it imperative for the route to be fixed, yet over many years, the road which is critical in Ghana’s fuel distribution network remains in a deplorable state to necessitate a threat from tanker drivers to go on strike over it.
A prolonged disruption in that corridor could consequently have wider economic implications, potentially affecting industrial operations, commercial activity and the movement of petroleum products to other parts of the country.
According to the drivers, the poor condition of the road also contributes to traffic congestion and places additional strain on tanker operators and their vehicles.
They are therefore calling on the government and relevant road authorities to urgently rehabilitate the Kpone-Tor Road and improve safety along the corridor.
The drivers have warned that failure to address their concerns will compel them to commence their planned strike from Wednesday, September 2.
The proposed action could affect the movement of petroleum products along the strategic corridor, with potential implications for fuel distribution if the strike persists.
