Tarkwa-Dompim Residents On Rampage After Pregnant Women Crushed By Vehicle

There was pandemonium at Tarkwa Simpa in the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality in the Western Region when a Toyota pick-up rammed into two pregnant women, killing them instantly, and seriously injuring another woman on the pedestrian walkway. The incident incensed the youth of the community to block the Tarkwa-Agona-Nkwanta highway, resulting in heavy vehicular traffic from both directions. Out of anger, the youth set a taxi and another vehicle ablaze, while the driver of the pick-up, who was coming from the Tarkwa direction, escaped. According to an eyewitness account, the incident occurred when the pick-up, in an attempt to overtake another vehicle, veered off the road to hit the two women who were returning from their usual trading activities at the Simpa Market. The woman who sustained injury has been conveyed to the Tarkwa Government Hospital. At the time of filing this report, the youth had refused to remove the blockade, thereby worsening the traffic situation on the Tarkwa-Agona Nkwanta highway. The youth also vented their speen on the District Police Commander and his men and injured the commander and some of his men when they made the attempt to restore peace and order. The police called for reinforcement from the Rapid Deployment Force in Takoradi to help contain the situation. Law and order When contacted, the Chairperson of the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Security Council (MUSEC), Mrs Christina Cobbinah, said all efforts were being made to contain the situation. Speaking on behalf of the youth, the Assembly Member for Tarkwa-Dompim, Mr Samuel Kesse, blamed the situation on the bad nature of the road linking Agona Nkwanta to Tarkwa. According to him, although the road was tarred, there were no proper road markings and speed humps to guide drivers. The situation, Mr Kesse said, had, over the past three years, resulted in many accidents which had claimed about 15 lives within the Dompim area. As part of measures to curtail the situation, he said the youth had, before the incident, erected a temporary speed hump but the police came to break it down and chased the youth away. �We were later told that the unfinished portion of the road would be awarded on contract but nothing has been done until this afternoon�s accident,� he added.