Editorial
MTTD must check this practice
Dear Editor,
I have realised an attempt by some Metropolitan and District Assemblies to help school children to cross major roads on their way to school by placing personnel at certain points to ensure that.
The officials often appear in reflector lemon green vests and are positioned at vantage points and are seen stopping vehicles to enable the children cross over safely.
There are quite a few who are just doing it for the love for this children because they don’t work for the assemblies.
All the same, the effort is quite commendable but looking carefully at the way they go about this, I see the need for the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service or the appropriate agency to offer these personnel some training.
On one of my days to I work, I observed how a man just stepped on the road to stop speeding vehicles for the children to cross.
In the instance, the drivers had to apply instant brakes. A few got out to register their protest with the man’s approach while the children stood watching.
That was not the first time I witnessed such an incident. I believe that when such personnel are trained, they would be made to understand that the road must be ‘quiet’ to some extent before waving drivers to stop for the children to cross.
Through that, the children would also learn that it is not automatic that every vehicle must stop when they get to the crossing point.
I implore the MTTD to go out and identify some of the people positioned at those crossing points and train them to know much about the role.
Nii Kwei Marshall,
Adabraka
Dear Editor,
I AM writing to draw your attention to the inadequate street lights in some parts of Wawase, a situation that continues to pose serious concerns for residents.
Street lights play a crucial role in ensuring safety and security within a community. Unfortunately, several areas in Wawase are completely without functioning street lights.
This has made movement at night very difficult and dangerous, especially for workers, students, and traders who return home late.
The lack of proper lighting has also created an enabling environment for criminal activities such as theft and harassment. Residents often live in fear, and some are forced to limit their movements after dark. Additionally, poor visibility increases the risk of road accidents, putting both pedestrians and drivers at risk.
It is concerning that despite the growing population and development in Wawase, this basic infrastructure issue remains unresolved.
I would like to appeal to the relevant authorities, including the local assembly and electricity providers, to urgently address this problem by installing new street lights and repairing faulty ones.
Ensuring adequate street lights will not only improve security but also enhance the overall quality of life for residents in the area.
Gwen Mensah, Agona Swedru
Dear Editor,
FOR some time now, I have been deeply concerned about the state of the Kaneshie footbridge, which has over the years developed cracks, exposing some rusted metal parts and raising safety concerns.
It is, therefore, welcome news for daily users of the facility like myself that a team from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), led by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), visited the facility and announced a temporary closure to allow for maintenance work to be carried out.
While I wish to commend the Assembly for the move, I believe it has been long overdue.
I often find it difficult to understand why, as a country, we sit, wait, and watch for preventable incidents or tragedies to happen before we react. I say this because the issue of the bad state of the Kaneshie footbridge has been one that has been re-echoed by many who use it on a daily basis.
I believe that as the Assembly looks to start the maintenance works on the footbridge, it is also important for it and other Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to pay attention to other footbridges across the country that are in a similar state.
The time has come for Ghana, as a country, to be more proactive than reactive.
I will also urge the assemblies to deploy their respective teams to always check on footbridges across the country to ensure that they are in good shape to avoid any tragedy that could lead to the loss of human lives.
From Fafa, Kaneshie
