Sakamkrom Barrier Poses Grave Danger To Road Users, Officers And Nearby Community, Dominic Duut Reports
A public safety journalism report by Dominic Duut of Oyerepa News, in collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer of NobleNews, has drawn attention to the growing danger posed by the police and customs barrier at Sakamkrom in the Offinso South Municipality, between Sakamkrom and Anyinasusuo.
The report, which is aimed at protecting the lives of road users as well as police and customs officers on duty, appeals to stakeholders to take urgent action to prevent a possible disaster.
In the report, Dominic Duut appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority, the Municipal Chief Executive for Offinso South, traditional authorities, opinion leaders and security agencies to reconsider the siting and management of the barrier.
According to the report, the barrier has already caused accidents and continues to expose road users and officers to serious risks that could claim lives.
It notes that barriers compel fast-moving highway traffic to slow down abruptly. This sudden change in speed creates severe collision zones, particularly where warning signs are absent or visibility is low.
The report further highlights extreme gridlock and delays at the checkpoint. Sudden highway stops force heavy freight trucks, buses and private vehicles to pack tightly together, creating long queues that often delay commuters and cargo transit for several hours.
It also raises concern about siphon risks and crowding. When fuel tankers are forced to halt or crash near barriers, local residents often gather with containers to siphon leaking fuel. This behaviour drastically increases the risk of secondary mass casualty explosions that could affect road users and officers at post.
The most dangerous aspect of the situation, according to Dominic Duut, is the close proximity of the barrier to fuel stations. Both the police barrier and the customs barrier are located near fuel stations, and in the event of a crash or even a small fire outbreak, flames could easily spread and burn the nearby community.
The danger is not theoretical. The report recalls that when a diesel tanker had an accident at the barrier, electric poles caught fire and burned to ashes together with the cables. The incident forced nearby communities into total darkness from Abofour Camp 31 to Offinso and its environs.
The blackout brought delay to business activities and essential services, affecting residents, traders, health facilities and other institutions that depend on electricity for their daily operations.
The report further observes that customs and police barriers on highways introduce severe structural bottlenecks that significantly increase road safety hazards, economic inefficiencies and emergency response vulnerabilities.
While designed to curb smuggling and ensure national security, poorly managed checkpoints often result in catastrophic accidents, long delays and infrastructural strain.
Dominic Duut is therefore appealing to the authorities to reconsider the situation and work towards a lasting solution.
He is calling on the Ghana Highway Authority, the Offinso South MCE, traditional authorities, opinion leaders and security agencies to urgently review the situation at Sakamkrom to safeguard the lives of road users, police and customs officers serving at the barrier, and residents of the nearby community, ensure the free flow of traffic and avert a possible disaster on the stretch.
By: Dominic Duut, Oyerepa News|NobleNews
