The transport business in the Upper East Region has been severely impacted following a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on Walewale township in the North East Region. The curfew, which runs from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM daily, was enforced by the Ministry of Interior on Saturday in response to attacks on vehicles and travelers along the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway.
Since last year, the Walewale stretch of the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway has increasingly become a dangerous route for travelers following a series of violent attacks on vehicles and passengers. The recurring incidents have sparked widespread fear and anxiety among commuters, forcing many to reconsider their travel plans or seek alternative routes.
These attacks are believed to be linked to the long-standing inter-ethnic conflict between the Kusasis and Mamprusis over the rightful ownership of the Bawku skin. As a result, transport operators in Bolgatanga, the Upper East regional capital, are experiencing a decline in business, as many travelers have canceled their trips out of fear for their safety.
Manager of O.A Transport Services in Bolgatanga, Patrick Mensah indicated that many travelers ply through the Walewale town to cities such as Sunyani, Kumasi, and Accra daily to do trading and back to the region.
However, he lamented that the situation has instilled fear and anxiety in travelers. He noted that despite the provision of security escorts for buses, many passengers are unwilling to travel under the current circumstances.
“The situation has affected our businesses because, with all the presence of the security escort, it has put fear in our passengers in the sense that people don’t want to travel. The few people who bought tickets in advance to travel called and said they were not traveling again until the situation normalizes,” he said.
Similarly, Mohammed Alangdi, a transport operator with Langdi Transport in Bolgatanga, echoed the concerns of his colleague, stressing the need for the government to find a lasting solution to the conflict.
“People don’t come to join our buses because they fear that when they get to Walewale they would be attacked. So, I think that the government should find a solution to the problem so that businesses will move well,” he urged.
A traveler, Elizabeth who has had to use the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway from Sunyani shared her apprehensions, stating that she embarked on the journey with great anxiety “because they told us that there were attacks on the Walewale stretch of the road so I was afraid that we may be attacked but thank God that we’ve arrived safely”.
Another traveler, Christiana called on the government and security agencies to take decisive action in restoring calm to Walewale and its surrounding areas to ensure the free movement of people and goods.
With the region’s economy heavily reliant on transportation and trade, stakeholders fear that the ongoing security crisis could have long-term effects on commerce and mobility. Transport operators and travelers alike are hopeful that swift action will be taken to resolve the conflict and bring normalcy to the area.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah
