[ 2016-06-17 ]

Another soul perishes on ‘killer’ N1 Highway
Several lives continue to perish on the George
Walker Bush Highway, popularly known as the N1,
due to government’s failed promises to construct
an additional overpass on the Abeka-Lapaz stretch
of the N1.

Just two days ago (Wednesday) around 9pm, a man
believed to be in his 40s was killed instantly in
a hit and run accident, while trying to cross the
three-lane Lapaz-Awoshie section of the road.

Blood was oozing from his head and his body
appeared crooked. He laid two pavements away from
where he was hit until a policemen came to carry
him away.

Two weeks ago, a car knocked down a woman and her
daughter when they attempted crossing the highway.
Several cars have also rammed into each other on
the same road.

The George Walker Bush is a six-lane,
14-kilometre highway. It is one of the roads in
the capital which has seen more accidents since
its completion in February 2012. Within ten months
after commissioning, 43 people were killed in a
motor accident there.

The nearest footbridges are about 15 minutes
walking distance from the traffic light
intersections. Many pedestrians, after alighting
from commercial vehicles, find it burdensome to
access these footbridges which are way behind.
Pedestrians who use this stretch of the road are
always on a marathon even when the road is clear
to cross.

Some pedestrians and traders who spoke to Citi
News said “I have witnessed several accidents on
this particular road. We have complained ever
since this road was completed. We thought this was
a venture that was going to bring us some relief
but it has rather worsened our plight” one
trader said.

“What have we not said about this road? You
just cannot imagine the number of souls that have
perished here at Lapaz especially.It is very scary
crossing this road especially when the traffic
lights are off. The drivers take over the road and
expect us to compete with them. Only God can save
us,” another pedestrian lamented.

In 2013, drivers, pedestrians and residents in
the area protested and blocked some parts of the
road, halting the movement of vehicles in a move
to get the government to construct more
footbridges. However, no action was taken.

Former Roads and Highways Minister, Alhaji Aminu
Sulemana, promised in Parliament that overpasses
would be constructed but this hasn’t happened.
In January 2015, the current Minister, Alhaji
Inusah Fuseini, assured that enough funds have
been secured to start the construction of seven
more footbridges from Fiesta Royale, Lapaz,
Kwashieman all the way to Awoshie.

But four years after this project, more than 200
deaths have been recorded on this highway. Some
pedestrians and residents who spoke to Citi News
say they believe the footbridge project may not
see the light of day.

What happened a few days ago is yet another
accident to occur on the N1. The big question is-
how long will people continue to die recklessly
while the authorities watch?

Source - citifmonline.com

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