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. This decision follows concerns raised by the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, about the increasing number of road crashes and fatalities on the stretch. The directive particularly targets the Sumbrungu section of the highway.
According to the Minister, engineers have 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. The intervention is necessary to protect motorists, pedestrians and residents living along the busy highway. Mr Agbodza stressed that the intervention could not wait until the planned rehabilitation of the highway.
The proposed speed ramps will serve as an interim measure to reduce vehicle speeds and improve road safety until the government undertakes major rehabilitation works on the highway. The Minister disclosed that the Ghana Highway Authority will begin taking steps to implement the measures by Monday. He expressed concern about motorists' disregard for speed limits, citing data from the National Road Safety Authority which identified driver error as a major cause of road crashes.
Mr Agbodza 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. He emphasized that the government has a responsibility to ensure that roads are made safer for users. The Minister commended Mr Adongo for drawing attention to the situation and appealed to motorists to exercise caution, particularly when driving through communities.
The Minister warned that reckless driving and excessive speeding endanger not only offending motorists but also innocent road users. He urged motorists to behave as good citizens and make sure they save their own lives. According to Mr Agbodza, motorists should consider the potential consequences of their actions, especially when driving through communities where they may be more likely to encounter pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
The Bolgatanga-Navrongo-Paga highway has been a major concern for road safety advocates, with many calling for improved infrastructure and enforcement measures to reduce the number of crashes. The installation of speed ramps is seen as a temporary solution to address the immediate safety concerns. The planned rehabilitation of the highway is expected to provide a more permanent solution to the road safety issues.
The government has urged motorists to cooperate with the new speed-calming measures and to exercise caution on the roads. The Ministry of Roads and Highways will continue to work with other stakeholders to improve road safety in Ghana. The public is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring the success of the speed-calming measures by adhering to speed limits and exercising caution on the roads.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government has ordered the installation of speed ramps on the Bolga-Navrongo-Paga highway to reduce road crashes and fatalities.
- The speed ramps are an interim measure to improve road safety until major rehabilitation works are undertaken on the highway.
- Driver error has been identified as a major cause of road crashes on the highway, according to data from the National Road Safety Authority.
