Check the killer highway...Minister Alhaji Amin Suleman

More than six months after the Roads and Transport Minister, Alhaji Amin Suleman, announced intentions by the government to construct six more footbridges on the N1 Highway, there is no sign of fulfilling the promise.

The "Finder’s" checks found out that no equipment or men have been moved to the area. Residents along the road have blamed the inadequacy of footbridges for the spate of accidents on the road.

Statistics from the National Road Safety Commission indicate that the N1 Highway has killed over 200 people and 500 vehicle accidents within a period of 17 months.

Over 70 of the victims were killed while attempting to cross the road.

The construction of additional footbridges is expected to bring some relief to users and pedestrians.

On February 9, Alhaji Suleman announced in Parliament that government intends to construct six more footbridges.

When The 'Finder' called Alhaji Suleman on phone to enquire on what was happening with regard to the six footbridges, the call was not answered, but the Minister replied through a text message: “send an sms with ID, I will call you back.”

The Finder then sent this text message: “good morning sir, I am…a journalist from The Finder newspaper. In February, you mentioned that government intends to construct 6 new footbridges on N1 highway. Will be happy to know what is happening to that plan.”

As at the time of going to press, the Minister had not called back as promised.

Mr. Martin Eson-Benjamin, CEO of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), told The Finder that the responsibility lies with government.

The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) erected barbed wire fencing on the median of the N1, also known as George Walker Bush Highway, as a temporary measure to prevent people from jumping over them to cross the highway, but that did not resolve the problem.

Assemblyman for Nii Boi Town Electoral Area, Micheal Zigah appealed to government to fast track plans and construct the six additional footbridges to save lives.

He also raised concerns about the traffic light at Las Palmas junction, which he said malfunctions frequently, endangering the lives of pedestrians, especially in the night.

A recent reported knockdown was in May 2013 while the most recent accident was on October 28.

As at February 20, 93 knockdowns had been recorded.

The Member of Parliament for Okaikoi Central, Mr. Patrick Yaw Boamah, also drew the attention of the authorities to the numerous accidents on the George Walker Bush Highway and called for measures to stop the carnage on that road.

On January 21, 2013, irate residents of Lapaz blocked both sides of the N1 Highway when a school girl, believed to be around nine years of age, was knocked down by a car.

Police personnel had to fire warning shots to control the situation.