Accra to Kumasi Highway – Lack of Pedestrian Facilities Sparks Protests

The Accra to Kumasi Highway, a crucial national route linking major cities in Ghana and neighboring West African countries, is marred by a pressing issue that has sparked protests among residents. The absence of pedestrian safety measures on the Accra to Kumasi Highway, including walkways, overpasses, and underpasses, along the highway, known as N6, has resulted in a disturbing increase in fatal pedestrian accidents.

The National Road Safety Authority’s recent statistics reveal a staggering 1,205 pedestrian knockdowns in the first quarter of 2023, a significant number of which occurred on the Accra to Kumasi Highway. Communities along the route, such as Akraman and Sakyikrom, have become the latest to stage protests, driven by the alarming surge in pedestrian accidents and the consequent loss of lives.

Residents around the Highway communities express profound concern about the daily risks they face while walking along or attempting to cross the highway. The removal of a flyover during road construction has worsened safety issues, leading to frequent accidents involving speeding cars. Tragically, a recent incident on the Accra to Kumasi Highway claimed the life of a pastor’s wife while crossing the road, highlighting the urgent need for pedestrian facilities like footbridges.

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Parents around the Accra to Kumasi Highway shed light on the perilous situations they encounter while crossing the highway to send their children to school. The lack of designated crossing points forces them to wait for minutes until the speeding traffic subsides, putting both parents and children at risk on a daily basis.

Even Okada riders in Akraman and Sakyikrom have shared harrowing stories of the dangers they face when attempting to cross the busy highway. Despite the gravity of the situation, former Assemblymember Hayford Owusu reveals that raising the issue at the Nsawam Adoagyiri municipal assembly has yielded no concrete actions to address the safety concerns.

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As fatalities continue to rise, communities along the Accra to Kumasi Highway are intensifying their protests. They are urgently calling on authorities, particularly the Ghana Highways Authority, to prioritize the installation of crucial pedestrian facilities. The demand is clear: the implementation of walkways, overpasses, and underpasses is essential to ensure the safety of pedestrians and prevent further loss of lives along this vital national route. The communities are united in their plea for immediate action to avert further tragedies on the Accra to Kumasi Highway.

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