Public Agenda is reporting today on its front page the emergence of unapproved U- turns on the Accra- Nsawam trunk road.
The road is undoubtedly one of the busiest highways in the country as it leads to other regional capitals and countries including Cote d’ Voire and Burkina- Faso. This therefore means that Authorities who are mandated to monitor and ensure the efficient maintenance of the road do not renege on their responsibilities.
However, it appears that the Ghana Highway Authority which is responsible for maintenance of country’s trunk roads has abandoned its role as drivers continue to create unapproved and what could be described as dangerous U- turns on these roads while the Authority sits unconcerned.
Observers and commuters have stressed that these illegalities are rife as a result of negligence on the part of the Ghana Highways Authority to ensure that the country’s roads are well constructed and safe for use by all.
The big question is; would the Ghana Highway Authority sit aloof until precious lives are lost before it acts?
Per the Ghana Highways Authority Act 1997 (Act 540 ),the Authority exist to ensure the administration, control, development and maintenance of the country’s trunk road network totaling 13,367 km and related facilities.
Already Public Agenda is being told that precious lives and properties are being lost daily following the emergence these unapproved U- Turns on the about 32 kilometers stretch.
As a commercial driver, Mr Bernard Asante who plies the road on daily basis put it, “using the road has become very dangerous and life threatening as a result of the illegal U- Turns.”
Without being judgemental, Public Agenda can report that the Ghana Highway Authority seems not to be interested in this development. We say this in reference to our September 2017 publication when we drew the attention of the Authority to this issue but nothing has being done after seven months, paving way for the recklessness to continue.
Public Agenda urges the Ghana Highway Authority and the law enforcement agencies wake up from their slumber and make sure that U-turns that are created illegally are blocked in order to stop the accidents.
We further urge all stakeholders, particularly the National Road Safety Commission and the Ghana Highway Authority to act now in order to save lives on the Accra- Nsawam trunk road.
