The lack of functional traffic lights in the Upper East Region especially in the capital, Bolgatanga, was a public concern which got authorities to intervene by working to repair dysfunctional traffic lights and installing new ones where necessary; to avert casualties.
In line with a promise made by the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, President Akufo-Addo in September this year, commissioned modern traffic and street lighting system in the Upper East regional capital – Bolgatanga.
Unfortunately however, some road users, particularly in the Bolgatanga Municipality, frequently disobey traffic regulations.
These road users who are mostly motorbike riders refuse to stop even when the traffic light indicates red alert.
The indiscipline behavior of these road users according to the Upper East Regional Director of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Dennis Yeribu, has often led to loss of lives.
Recounting a recent incident in Bolgatanga, Mr. Yeribu said “When the traffic light indicates stop at a section, it gives way for others ahead to cross. There was a certain case involving fatalities at the traffic light at the Stadium-Soe intersection because somebody dodge the red light. One of them wanted to move when it was red, meanwhile, it had release green from another side. So, they collided and 3 people died”.
Mr. Yeribu spoke exclusively to A1 NEWS in line with the authority’s ‘Arrive Alive’ Campaign.
The ‘Arrive Alive’ campaign seeks to reduce carnage on the roads as the yuletide season approaches.
According to Mr. Yeribu, over 80 percent of accident cases recorded in the region involved males with most of the casualties being breadwinners in their families.
“Our figures in the Upper East region shows that, more than 80% of our casualties are male. And I can authoritatively tell you that, more than 75% of all those dying are 18-year and over; and a lot are below the age of 50. A lot of widows are created and families are disorganized by the deaths. People have been amputated; some are blind, epileptic because of road accidents. All these are because of impatience, over speeding, drunk-driving and the rest which are simple practices we can avoid and be safe on the road.” he lamented.
The Regional Director of NRSA further expressed worry that the impatience nature of some road users contributes to people on the pedestrian walkways being knockdown of which most vulnerable in society such as persons with disabilities are the worse affected.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|Joshua Asaah|Ghana
