The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has directed the Ghana Highway Authority to install temporary speed ramps along the Bolgatanga-Navrongo stretch of the Trans-ECOWAS Road following reports of between 10 and 20 fatalities on the stretch.
The directive, particularly targeting the Sumbrungu section, is intended to reduce speeding and prevent further road crashes while government prepares for the major rehabilitation of the highway.
Mr Agbodza gave the order in Bolgatanga after the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, drew his attention to the reported fatalities and called for immediate safety measures.
“Honourable Adongo brought this to our attention and requested that something be done, even if it is in the interim, to calm the speed,” the Minister said.
He attributed many road crashes to driver error and disregard for speed limits, citing data from the National Road Safety Authority.
“The record from the National Road Safety Authority on the causes of road accidents clearly suggests driver error. It is hardly the nature of the road itself. The majority of our people are ignoring the legal speed limits,” he said.
Mr Agbodza said engineers had proposed 10 traffic-calming features along an eight-kilometre stretch, particularly around schools, clinics and other public-interest areas.
He consequently directed the Ghana Highway Authority to engage a competent professional and present an immediate solution by Monday.
“I direct that Highways immediately, maybe by Monday, get a competent person to bring this solution. The road itself has been maintained for a while. We know the road is planned for major rehabilitation later, but that time may be too late for somebody’s life to be saved. So, we will put in the temporary measure for now to help calm traffic,” he said.
The Minister explained that the speed ramps would serve as an interim safety intervention pending the planned rehabilitation of the highway.
He also acknowledged that automated traffic enforcement falls outside his Ministry’s mandate but said government remained concerned about road safety.
Minister appeals to motorists
Mr Agbodza urged motorists to observe speed limits, warning that reckless driving puts other road users at risk, including people who are not responsible for the speeding.
He cited President John Dramani Mahama’s recent comments on road safety and the consequences of losing loved ones in road crashes.
“What if the 10 to 20 people that have lost their lives on this road were your sister, brother, wife, husband, your only son, your only daughter? How would you feel? Until you put it in that context, you would think it is somebody else’s situation,” he said.
He appealed to drivers to exercise caution, particularly when passing through communities.
“I don’t know any driver that drives through his own hometown at 120 kilometres per hour because you might kill your cousin. But when we are in somebody else’s town, we think it is normal,” he said.
He warned that a speeding driver could cause the death of innocent people, including those observing traffic regulations.
“Please, let us all behave as good citizens to make sure we save our own lives, because you might be a victim, not necessarily because you’re over speeding, but somebody over speeding might crash into you,” he added.
Source: Bolgafmonline.com| 102.7 MHz| David Azure| Bolgatanga
