Margibi County—Residents of Margibi County, including pedestrians, motorcyclists, and commercial drivers, are voicing their frustration over the severe damage to several communities and major highways caused by heavy trucks hired by ArcelorMittal.
By: Yawah Y. Jaivey, [email protected]
For over eight months, these trucks, belonging to the vehicle rental company Logistics Services Incorporated, have been transporting heavy factory equipment along the Cotton Tree-26 Gate Road through Kakata City to Yekepa in Nimba County for ArcelorMittal.
The continuous movement of these heavily loaded trucks has left the roads in a deplorable state, rendering them nearly impassable for motorists, particularly motorcyclists and commercial vehicles that frequently travel between Kakata and Harbel.
The community roads, including Old 14 Road, New 14 Road, and Kakata-26 Gate Road leading to the Firestone Plantation, are among the most affected.
The enraged motorists told FrontPage Africa that the extensive damage has not only disrupted daily commutes but also raised significant safety concerns among the local population.
“The roads were in good condition before ArcelorMittal’s trucks began using them. Now, the damage is enormous, especially on the feeder community and highway roads,” said Jeffrey Ballah, a commercial motorcyclist.
He noted that the situation has worsened during the rainy season, leading to frequent accidents among motorcyclists.
Another motorcyclist, Joshua Tambah, echoed Ballah’s sentiments, blaming the deteriorating condition of Old 14 Road and New 14 Road and Kakata-26 Gate Road on the trucks hired to transport heavy factory equipment for ArcelorMittal.
Commercial drivers who commute between Kakata and Harbel are also feeling the strain. They complain that the poor road conditions are making their daily operations increasingly difficult. The Kakata to Harbel route, which is the shortest path via the 26 Gate Road, has become nearly impassable.
“We used to take the 26 Gate Road to get to Cotton Tree, but the heavy trucks have ruined it. We tried using the Division 16 Road after they destroyed the 26 Gate Road, but now they’ve moved on and damaged the Division 16 Road as well,” said Trokon P. Joe, a commercial driver.
Mr. Joe explained that drivers are now forced to take the longer 15 Gate to Harbel route, which requires them to consume three gallons of gasoline compared to the two gallons needed on the previous route.
He noted that the additional expense has prompted discussions among drivers and the transport union about increasing the fares to cover the losses.
For his part, Alex Kollie, deputy chief driver of Margibi County and a commercial driver himself told FrontPage Africa that the alternative 15 Gate—Harbel route is also in poor condition.
He noted that the route frequently causes vehicles to break down, leading to additional repair costs for drivers.
The drivers are calling on the relevant authorities to address the situation urgently to prevent further deterioration of the roads and to restore safe and reliable routes for all road users.
