I spotted this young unemployed man volunteering to control traffic at East Legon immediately after AH hotel towards America House.
The traffic light is out of service causing huge traffic on that stretch. The Ministry of Roads and Transport and road safety must find this young man to engage him officially.
The young man was begging for money alongside doing his voluntary work as a way of motivating himself by putting food on his table.
Many spoiled traffic lights across the country pose danger to motorists and are part of hotspots for road accidents while millions of unemployed youth are idle without jobs.
Though periodically the Ghana Police Service and road safety deploys officers to control traffic, there is less needed effort in controlling traffic intersections in Ghana.
In 2024, Ghana experienced a concerning rise in road traffic fatalities. Between January and September, 1,817 lives were lost in road accidents, marking an 8.35% increase from the 1,677 fatalities reported during the same period in 2023.
gbcghanaonline.com
In the first half of the year (January to June), 1,237 deaths were recorded, a 12.97% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Despite the rise in fatalities, the total number of road crashes decreased. From January to September 2024, 9,820 incidents were reported, a 7.48% decline from the 10,614 crashes recorded in the same period the previous year.
Pedestrian knockdowns also decreased, with 1,750 pedestrians struck in 2024 compared to 1,847 in 2023.
gbcghanaonline.com
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) attributes these improvements to increased compliance with traffic regulations and collaborative efforts with partners. However, the rising death toll remains a concern, prompting the NRSA to urge citizens to adhere to road traffic laws.
In response to the escalating fatalities, the NRSA has been actively working to reduce road accidents, especially with the 2024 elections and the festive season approaching. Initiatives include the formation of district road safety management committees in all 16 regions, with approximately 82% of this initiative complete.
These statistics underscore the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic laws to protect all road users in Ghana.
