GHA to erect barbed wire fences to prevent deaths on N1 highway

The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) has decided to as a temporary measure erect barbed wire fencing on the median of the N1 or George Walker Bush Highway to prevent people from jumping over them to cross the highway.

According to the Head of Public Relations at the GHA, Mr. Norbert Boniface Quarmor, the Authority is highly concerned about the rate at which people are being knocked down and killed by vehicles on the road.

As at Friday, information available to the GHA indicated that between 12 to 14 people had been killed on the Motorway which stretches from Tetteh-Quarshie to Mallam Junction. “We have 52 weeks in a year so if 12 to 14 persons have lost their lives in less than two weeks, then how many are we counting in a year,” he inquired.

In an interview with Adom News, Mr. Boniface Quarmor explained that the GHA is still conducting ‘a post construction safety audit’ on the N1 Highway to ascertain defects so that concerns being raised by users especially pedestrians will be taken into consideration and acted upon where necessary.

He therefore urged all to exercise restraint and abide by the existing regulations on the Highway pending a final decision by the GHA.

One common concern raised so far is the distance between the six overhead-footbridges on the N1 highway while some pedestrians also complain that the footbridges are cited at places where they are not really needed.

But Mr. Quarmor says “the GHA cannot for now promise if additional footbridges will be constructed on the N1 highway or not.

"What people must do is to cherish their lives, desist from crossing from unauthorized points since one cannot predict when danger meets them and possibly end their lives” he said, adding "the nature of the road as it is now is a motorway with drivers, driving at a certain speed level”.

In a related development, Mr. Quarmor is calling on the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) to have a physical presence at Lapaz to discourage ‘trotro’ drivers from using the traffic intersection at Lapaz as a stopping bay.

According to Mr. Quarmor, ‘trotro’ drivers are not supposed to use Lapaz as a loading bay as has been the case since the highway was officially commissioned on 16th February this year.

He equally expressed concern about the way petty traders are gradually taking over pavements and even some sections of the highway at Lapaz thereby creating congestion.