PAYOM calls for urgent intervention and alternative holding bays to address Paga truck congestion

The Paga Youth Movement (PAYOM) has called for urgent measures to address the growing congestion of transit trucks along the Paga-Burkina Faso corridor and the continued use of the Paga airstrip as a temporary holding area, warning that the situation poses significant safety, security, and public health risks.

The concerns were raised during a stakeholder meeting convened by the Kassena-Nankana West District Chief Executive (DCE), Stephen Aeke Akurugu, at the District Assembly premises in Paga on Thursday, June 4.

The meeting sought to engage the youth group on the challenges associated with the increasing volume of transit trucks and to gather recommendations for possible solutions.

Speaking at the meeting, PAYOM member Gideon Sibido expressed concern over the concentration of fuel tankers and heavy-duty trucks in a single location, cautioning that any major accident could result in a disaster beyond the capacity of local emergency responders to manage.

“The fear is that the slightest mistake or error could trigger a disaster that we may not be able to contain,” he said.

Sibido proposed the establishment of additional truck holding bays along the transit route, particularly in Walewale, Bolgatanga, and Navrongo, to reduce pressure on Paga and improve traffic management.

He also called for the long-term expansion of the Paga road network, the repair of potholes, and stricter enforcement of road safety regulations to curb reckless overtaking by drivers.

PAYOM Vice President, Frederick Wugaa Awovire, and the group’s Public Relations Officer, Desmond Abire, questioned the continued occupation of the Paga airstrip by parked trucks, stressing that the facility remains strategically important.

According to them, the airstrip could serve critical functions, including emergency landings, medical evacuations, security operations, and future aviation development initiatives.

“We are aware of the volatile situations in some of our neighbouring countries and the growing threat of terrorism in the sub-region,” Awovire stated.

He argued that the use of the airstrip as a truck park could undermine emergency response capabilities and hinder efforts to revive the facility for aviation purposes.

Responding to the concerns, Akurugu assured participants that the Assembly was fully aware of the congestion challenges and had consistently communicated developments to the regional authorities.

“The Regional Minister is very much aware of the situation. There is nothing happening in this district that we do not report to the regional level,” he said.

The DCE welcomed the proposal for the creation of holding bays along the transit corridor and pledged to engage relevant stakeholders and neighbouring Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to explore the possibility.

“If we make that suggestion to the Regional Minister, he can also engage the MMDCEs along the route to see how they can contribute towards addressing the situation,” he noted.

Akurugu further explained that the Assembly currently lacks suitable land for the establishment of a permanent truck park but remains open to partnerships with private landowners willing to invest in such facilities.

“If you have land and are able to develop it into a truck park, and revenue is generated while the Assembly also benefits, we are ready to work with you,” he said.

He added that ongoing plans by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to expand its truck park in Paga could offer a more sustainable, long-term solution to the congestion problem.

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