Youth and residents of Sumbrungu in the Upper East Region have threatened to construct speed ramps themselves if authorities fail to address longstanding road safety concerns following the deaths of two young men in an accident on the Bolgatanga–Navrongo Highway.
The two reportedly died in an accident along the Sumbrungu–Azimsum stretch of the highway on Sunday, October 25, 2026, triggering protests and renewed demands for measures to control speeding in the community.
Assembly Member for the Sumbrungu-Azorebisi Electoral Area, Dr Elias Ayinbila Apasiya, said residents had taken to the streets to express their frustration over what they described as the failure of authorities to address repeated concerns about accidents along the road.
According to him, the latest accident reportedly involved wrongful overtaking, raising further concerns about dangerous driving and the heavy movement of trucks along the highway.
Dr Apasiya said residents had repeatedly appealed to the government and relevant road authorities to install speed ramps at strategic locations within the community to compel motorists to reduce their speed.
He recalled that residents organised a demonstration around June or July 2026, during which the Upper East Regional Minister, Regional Police Commander, officials of the Ghana Highway Authority and other stakeholders engaged them over their concerns.
However, he lamented that the community had yet to see the expected interventions, despite the previous engagements.
The Assembly Member warned that frustration was growing among residents, with some young people threatening to take matters into their own hands by constructing speed ramps if authorities continued to delay action.
The youth have described their intended approach as the “Bulsa way”, signalling their determination to act independently if their demands are not addressed.
Another resident, Gilbert Alolika, expressed concern about recurring fatal accidents along the Sumbrungu–Azimsum stretch, blaming dangerous driving and the heavy movement of trucks for the risks faced by motorists and pedestrians.
Mr Alolika confirmed that two people had died in the latest accident and called for a minute of silence in their memory before addressing residents.
He extended his condolences to the bereaved families and urged authorities to take immediate steps to prevent further deaths.
Recalling an earlier accident, Mr Alolika said some students who had attended a graduation ceremony at Akayet University were involved in a crash while returning from town.
He said he witnessed the incident and described its consequences as horrific, arguing that it demonstrated the dangers associated with travelling along the highway.
According to him, the frequency and severity of accidents on the stretch required urgent attention from road safety authorities.
Residents maintain that excessive speeding, dangerous overtaking and the absence of adequate speed-control measures continue to expose road users to danger.
They are therefore calling on the government, Ghana Highway Authority, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to intervene and introduce appropriate measures to improve safety along the highway.
The community wants authorities to assess sections of the road considered dangerous and implement effective speed-control interventions to protect pedestrians, motorists and other road users.
Although some youth have threatened to construct speed ramps themselves, the installation of such structures on a major highway requires technical assessment and approval from the relevant road authorities to avoid creating additional hazards.
As families mourn the two young men, residents say they expect the latest tragedy to prompt action on their longstanding concerns.
They insist that improving road safety along the Sumbrungu–Azimsum stretch must be treated as a priority to prevent further loss of life.
A1 Radio | 101.1 MHz | Moses Anaba Azubire | Bolgatanga
