Tomato transporters on strike over highway attacks
The association says it has lost four of its members in highway attacks and the strike is to draw government's attention to members' plight
The prices of tomatoes are expected to go up in the coming days because Tomato Traders and Transporters Association is on strike, claiming the government has failed to provide them with security to Burkina Faso.
The association says four of their members have been attacked and killed by robbers in the past few weeks due to lack of security on the road.
The development is likely to affect prices of the edible berry because the country mostly rely on import of tomatoes between February and June to shore up local production.
One of the drivers who spoke to local network TV3 said: “Four of our colleagues have so far been killed between Techiman to Bolgatanga, the police men on the road are also extorting money from us.”
He added: “The strike will greatly affect the country because most of the traders have gone for loans and we will also not sit down for armed robbers to kill us while the police and government look on unconcerned. We will call off the strike if government provides us security on the roads.”
Meanwhile, it appears the association is divided as some members are still running their business defying the strike order.
Fred Dzakpata
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