Gas tanker overturns near Tema motorway roundabout

A Howo gas tanker overturned in the early hours of Friday, June 19, after reportedly attempting to avoid a large pothole on the dual carriageway near Tema Technical Institute, causing traffic disruptions and prompting a swift emergency response.

The incident occurred on the stretch of road leading towards the Motorway Roundabout in Tema, where the tanker lost balance and fell onto its side while the driver was manoeuvring around a damaged section of the roadway.

Emergency response teams, including personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), were immediately dispatched to the scene to secure the area and prevent any potential hazards.

Authorities said the situation has since been brought under control, with emergency personnel establishing safety measures to protect motorists, nearby residents and businesses operating within the vicinity.

As part of ongoing operations, officials detached the truck’s head, which bears registration number 4615-T1-03, from the overturned tanker and transported it to a nearby police station for safekeeping and further investigations.

Preliminary assessments by emergency responders indicate that there is currently no visible gas leakage from the tanker. However, authorities are maintaining strict safety protocols due to the highly flammable nature of liquefied gas products.

Residents, business owners and individuals working close to the accident scene have been advised to avoid activities involving naked flames, welding, grinding, smoking or any other form of hot work that could potentially ignite gas vapours should a leak occur.

Emergency officials emphasized that the precautionary measures are necessary to eliminate any risk of fire or explosion while recovery operations continue.

To safely manage the situation, arrangements are underway to deploy another Bulk Road Vehicle (BRV) to transfer the gas from the overturned tanker before efforts are made to remove the vehicle from the roadway.

The transfer operation is expected to be conducted under strict supervision by technical experts and emergency response teams to ensure public safety and prevent environmental contamination.

Meanwhile, traffic diversions have been introduced along portions of the affected route, resulting in significant congestion and delays for commuters travelling between Tema and the Motorway Roundabout.

Motorists have been advised to exercise patience, follow directions from traffic officers and consider alternative routes where possible as recovery operations continue.

The accident has once again highlighted growing concerns about deteriorating road conditions on some major highways and urban roads, with motorists frequently raising complaints about potholes and damaged road surfaces that pose safety risks.

Authorities are expected to conduct further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including assessing whether road conditions contributed to the tanker overturning.

No casualties or injuries had been reported at the time of filing this report.

Emergency services remain on standby at the scene as efforts continue to safely transfer the gas and clear the overturned tanker from the roadway.