Defective Traffic Lights, cause of accidents

Metro page April 16, 2008


Story: Charles Benoni Okine

This avoidable accident happened last Saturday afternoon at the intersection between the Boomerang Night Club and the GhanaTelecom headquarters on the Nkrumah Circle/Achimota road.
There were minor injuries just because there was luck on the side of the all the passengers. They could have perished.
This accident happened because the traffic lights at that intersection have simply not been functioning for a long time and it is as if the authorities, either Ghana Highway Authority, the Department of Urban Roads or the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) is not aware of the consequences of non-functioning traffic lights or they have deliberately turned a blind eye to such a serious danger.
As soon as the accident occurred, there were near physical exchanges as each party tried to blame the other for not being patient. They argued with each other, claiming to have the right of way, but that could not bring back their damaged vehicles nor instantly heal their injuries and pain.
In recent times, many traffic lights within the city have not been functioning. Most of them, even on the highways, have been off for more than a year and it is unfortunate that in spite of the many radio and print media appeals to the authorities to live up to expectation, they have simply turned a deaf ear to the calls.
In many areas, such accidents have not only resulted in injuries, no matter how minor, but unfortunately many innocent and precious lives have been lost.
It is amazing that nobody is prepared to take those in charge to task to perform this simple duty of ensuring that these lights work constantly to avoid such calamities.
This lackadaisical attitude makes one wonder why the lights were mounted in the first place by these authorities when the roads were constructed.
Is it because somebody or a group of people were interested in bloating the construction cost of the road project only to take a bigger share of the “Kick back” or it is simply because there are no competent people to manage this simple thing.
If the authorities cannot manage these traffic lights, then it is a pity and they need to bow their heads in shame. Whoever is in charge deserves not another day in office because of his/her gross incompetence and lack of regard for precious human lives.
While one wishes that those in charge do not get involved in such accidents because of their gross negligence, lack of regard for human lives and incompetence, it is hoped that they simply live up to expectation because their attitudes towards work is just unfortunate and unacceptable and the ministries in-charge must back up now.

Pic: The two vehicles surrounded by many people acting as judges and road traffic experts, trying to lay blame on each of the driver’s doorstep, minutes after the accident. Pic; Charles Benoni Okine