The Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has directed the Ghana Highway Authority to urgently introduce speed-calming measures along the Bolgatanga-Navrongo-Paga highway following reports that between 10 and 20 people have died in road crashes on the stretch.
The directive, which particularly targets the Sumbrungu section of the highway, follows concerns raised by the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, about the increasing number of road crashes and fatalities.
Speaking during a working visit to the Upper East Region, Mr Agbodza said the intervention was necessary to protect motorists, pedestrians and residents living along the busy highway.
“Honorable Adongo brought this to our attention and requested that something be done, even if it’s in the interim, to calm the speed,” he said.
The Minister disclosed that engineers had proposed the installation of 10 speed-calming features along an eight-kilometre stretch of the highway, particularly around schools, health facilities and other areas with significant pedestrian activity.
He directed the Ghana Highway Authority to begin taking steps to implement the measures by Monday, stressing that the intervention could not wait until the planned rehabilitation of the highway.
“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,” Mr Agbodza directed.
He explained that the proposed speed ramps would serve as an interim measure to reduce vehicle speeds and improve road safety until the government undertakes major rehabilitation works on the highway.
Mr Agbodza also expressed concern about motorists’ disregard for speed limits, citing data from the National Road Safety Authority which, he said, identified driver error as a major cause of road crashes.
“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. Majority of our people are ignoring the legal speed limits,” he stated.
The Minister further recalled President John Dramani Mahama’s position on calls to suspend traffic enforcement measures, urging the public to consider the devastating impact of road crashes on families.
“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.
While acknowledging that automated traffic enforcement falls outside the mandate of the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Mr Agbodza maintained that the government had a responsibility to ensure that roads were made safer for users.
He commended Mr Adongo for drawing attention to the situation and appealed to motorists to exercise caution, particularly when driving through communities.
“We appeal to the motoring public; you are part of this solution. I don’t know any driver that drives through his own hometown at 120 kilometers 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 reckless driving and excessive speeding endangered not only offending motorists but also innocent road users.
“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.”
David Azure | A1 Radio | Bolgatanga
