Comment: The deteriorating N1 Highway: Who is in charge?

The six-lane, 14-kilometre George Walker Bush Highway also known as the N1Highway officially opened to motorists on 15 February 2012 had a lot going for it but a few years down the line the road is not only claiming lives but exposing the age old curse of poor maintenance culture on the part of officialdom.
The overall objective of the N1 Project was to reduce travel time and vehicle operating cost as well as make an immense impact on the economy of the nation by improving the turnaround time from farm gate to the airport and Tema seaport.
As with any road, accidents are bound to happen but whiles towing service outfits promptly escort damaged vehicle off to parking lots and garages, accident or faulty vehicles on the N1 highway are left unattended to for lengthy periods of time involving days and weeks ultimately posing grave danger to other road users.
Guard railings which serve as security and safety barriers on the highway sometimes get damaged but sadly the police or private towing agencies couldn’t be bothered. In the laid pictures below, a truck can be seen resting on a guard railing posing a clear and present danger to fellow drivers.
Aside damage to the guard rails, a good number of the street lights on the highway are not functioning either because the bulb in the sockets have been dislocated or the traffic stands themselves have been hit. Why those in charge of fixing street lights do not use solar lights as done on the Graphic road is a mystery only the officials can resolve.
The lanes between the roads which ideally could be grassed or decorated with ornamental plants are rather filled with polyethene bags and other filth without the expertise of the parks and garden folks sought.
Certain portions of the N1 highway have been eroded requiring patching yet road engineers couldn’t be inclined to get to work.
A few questions arise:

• Who or which agency has supervisory responsibility over the maintenance of the N1 highway and its accessories?


• When a driver hits a traffic/street light or guard railing who ought to foot the bill or pay for the damages?


• What is the police policy on use of their towing trucks?


• Can’t street sellers who hawk their wares on the side of the road keep their portion clean and tidy instead of piling filth on the Lapaz stretch of the road?


• How is it that the drains supposed to ferry liquid waste safely are choked with solid matter causing the spillage of liquid waste on the road causing discomfort as well as posing a health risk to pedestrians?