Features
Stop unnecessary seizure of vehicles at designated parking space
No nation operates in a vacuum that is why there are sets of laws, rules and regulations duly crafted, studied and analysed for the guidance of the people in their daily activities. There is bound to be total confusion and chaos if countries in the world operate without abiding by the laws set out to regulate their operations. Ghana is no exception and, therefore, not an island of its own. It has a set of laws, rules and regulations enshrined in statute books to guide the citizens in their daily lives. Those who decide to go contrary to the laws of the country, will face the consequences thereof.
COMPLYING WITH THE MOTOR TRAFFIC LAWS
In this country, we have the city authorities and the police who are duly mandated by law to ensure that issues regarding road traffic management are effectively handled in accordance with the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683). This law empowers the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service to enforce road traffic regulations among the citizens, especially motorists. Flouters of the law are duly disciplined either through court fines or various terms in prison to serve as deterrent to others. The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) complement the work of the MMTD in the enforcement of the law.
WHAT DOES DESIGNATED PARKING SPACE MEAN?
Designated parking space means parking space that has been set aside for the parking of a particular vehicle or class of vehicles or use by a particular person or class of persons for the parking of vehicles. Parking spaces are very important to cities. Acity must have enough parking spaces to provide its residents and visitors a place to park their cars. Since cars are the main factor in transportation, a city must meet the needs of drivers. Parking can be considered a problem because it creates congestion and reduces the real estate available for more important purposes, such as housing, transit, parks and public space. It contributes also to urban sprawl by increasing the distance between each building. In reality the parking problem is an issue of overall transport policy. This article limits itself to street parking and its impact on road performance. Indeed, transportation requires parking space to stop. However, if parking is not well served, it can disrupt traffic flow and cause congestion. Parking on the side of the road will incur a loss for both the driver and the public if not properly managed.
SAFE PARKING OF VEHICLES
When a car is safely parked, it is visible not obstructing other road users. At night, if you are only parking for a short time, you can leave your parking lights or hazard lights on to make your vehicle more visible. In other jurisdiction, the law states that if your vehicle is not moved within 72 hours, an officer or employee of the police department has the right to issue your vehicle a parking violation notice. There is also a vehicle code section that allows the officer or employee to have the vehicle towed and stored at the owner’s expense.
ROADSIDE PARKING AND FINES
Some parts of the streets in Accra are clearly marked ‘No Parking’ and that is a clear warning to motorists to avoid parking in that restricted area, otherwise when they are arrested they will definitely face sanctions. This is part of the arrangement by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and the police to instill sanity on the roads to ensure that pedestrian and vehicular accidents are either prevented or brought to the barest minimum. The safety of the people is, indeed, paramount and ultimate, therefore, that bold initiative by the city authorities and the law enforcement agencies are highly commendable.
NEGATIVE BEHAVIOURS BY AMA TASKFORCE
However, in the midst of this positive development, unfortunate negative incidents are currently in vogue by that same city authorities which tend to dampen the spirit of motorists and drivers and need to be addressed immediately. It will interest readers and of course the generality of Ghanaians to know that drivers are being arrested and fined for parking at places they are not aware of being prohibited because there are no road signs to inform them not to park in those areas.
WRITER’S OWN EXPERIENCE
In fact, I was a victim of this negative act by officials from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) whose offices are located at Awudome in Accra. I parked my car at the designated bus stop at Awudome on the main Ring Road, to withdraw money from the Absa Bank near the State Transport Company. I spent just about 10 minutes because I used the ATM which was a fast approach to the withdrawal.
When I returned for my car, I noticed that it had been locked together with others whose drivers were not in sight. I told an AMA officer who was standing-by that, I just went to the bank to withdraw money which took me less than 15 minutes but he did not listen to me at all. Instead, he sat in my car and asked me to drive to their office at Awudome which I did. At the office they detained my car the whole day and imposed a fine of GHc 300.00 on me. It was the Public Relations Officer (PRO) who intervened after my explanation, before they released my car to me.
ANOTHER LADY’S EXPERIENCE
Similar story is told about a lady who recently left her sick daughter at home to rush to the office to send a message which had to be delivered by 1 pm. On her way, she stopped by an orange seller by the roadside to buy oranges and remembered she had to buy tomatoes just close by to make some soup for her sick daughter. She returned only to see her car locked by the AMA taskforce team. The team, according to the report, had left the scene and made one staff to watch the car. When the lady enquired from him why her car had been locked, his response was that, “this is a bus stop and you were not supposed to park here”. What? Where is the no sign, what shows that this is a bus stop?” the lady blurred out. The officer was quoted to have said that, “If you are coming to talk law, you will make your case worse. Alright, what is my bill? Unlock my car because I have an emergency assignment to deliver at 1 pm,” the lady told the officer. The taskforce team member has to call his supervisor and that was around 12.15 pm. He arrived around 1.50 pm after wasting the lady’s precious time.
DEFECTS IN OUR ROAD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Indeed, these two unfortunate incidents as narrated by this writer should tell us that there is something basically wrong with our road management which must be addressed by the top hierarchy within the road sector quickly. For, how can you arrest motorists in areas within the city where you have not indicated that there should be no parking at those points. Is it being done deliberately to collect illegal money from unsuspecting motorists? Upon all these extortions from car owners, you have the impudence to waste their precious time because you have detained their cars. Is it the Ghana, our cherished and revered country we are dying for? As much as we expect the laws of this country to work efficiently and effectively, those who are to enforce the laws must behave responsibly.
Contact email/WhatsApp of author: ataani2000@yahoo.com 0277753946/0248933366
By Charles Neequaye
When Abigail Fremah steps up to the Armwrestling table, the noise fades, the tension settles, and order takes over.
Despite a calm, but firm and meticulous disposition, she has become one of the quiet forces shaping Ghana’s growing reputation in the sport, not as an athlete, but a referee trusted on the continental stage.
Abigail’s journey into Armwrestling did not begin at the table. Like many Ghanaian sports enthusiasts, she grew up playing several disciplines. Football was her first love, but she also featured in volleyball and basketball during her school years. Sports, she says, was simply a way of life not just for her.
“It runs through the family. All my siblings are into sports,” she stated.
“I was involved in almost every sport in school, football, volleyball, netball, hockey; I did everything,” she recalls.
Her academic background in Health, Physical Education and Recreation laid a solid foundation for her sporting career. While on scholarship at the university (University of Cape Coast), she often used her modest budget to support young athletes, sometimes sharing skills and even T-shirts at programmes she attended. Giving back, she explains, has always been part of her motivation.
However, as she matured as an athlete, Abigail made a critical self-assessment.
“Armwrestling involves a lot of strength,” she admits. “Looking at my body type, I realised I couldn’t fit properly as a competitive athlete.”
That moment of honesty pushed her to a different trajectory but equally important path in sports; which is officiating.
During her National Service, she was encouraged by Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), to consider officiating. He introduced her to a technical official, Mr Hussein Akuerteh Addy, who formally took her through the basics of Armwrestling officiating in 2021.
“I started as a case official,” she says. “We moved from region to region every week, officiating competitions. That’s where it all began.”
By 2022, Abigail was actively involved in national assignments, though she missed the African Championship that year. Her breakthrough came in 2023, when Ghana hosted the African Armwrestling Championship.
It was her first experience officiating at a major international competition and it changed everything.
“That was my first national and international exposure at the same time,” she says. “It really opened my eyes.”
Today, Abigail is a World Junior Armwrestling Referee, a status earned through performance, consistency and discipline. She explains that progression in officiating was not automatic.
“It’s all about performance, your appearance at African Championships, your conduct, how you handle pressure; that’s what takes you to the world level,” she stressed.
As a referee, Abigail’s priority is safety and fairness. Armwrestling, she notes, comes with risks, particularly injuries to the wrists, elbows, shoulders and arms.
“If athletes don’t follow the rules or refuse to listen to officials, injuries can happen,” she explains, adding that focus was everything.
Before every match, she ensures that all equipment which includes elbow pads, hand pegs and table alignment were properly set. Athletes are not allowed to cover their elbows, must grip correctly, and must follow the referee’s commands precisely.
“We make sure everything is fixed before the grip,” she says. “Once we say ‘Ready… Go’, there should be no confusion.”
She is also firm on discipline. Warnings are issued for infractions, and repeated misconduct attracts penalties.
“The referee must be respected, if you don’t listen, the rules will deal with you,” she says.
Abigail credits her confidence partly to her sporting family background. Her mother was a volleyball player, while other family members also participated in sports. Though they were initially concerned about her safety, her rise to the top reassured them.
“They were afraid at first,” she admits. “But they were also very proud, especially because some of them never got the opportunity to reach this level.”
Looking ahead, Abigail is optimistic about the future of Armwrestling in Ghana. In less than a decade, the country has produced African and world-level medalists, a sign, she believes, of great things to come for Ghana.
“Whenever we go out, we come back with medals such as gold and silver,” she says, and to her that was a sign of growth.
In the next five to ten years, Abigail sees herself rising to become a World Master Referee, the highest officiating level in the sport. Until then, her routine remains intense, training four times a week, working closely with athletes, standing on her feet for hours, and constantly refining her understanding of the rules.
“I love this sport,” she says simply. “That love is what keeps me going.”
Abigail encouraged women to be bold and intentional about their place in sports saying “don’t limit yourself because of fear or stereotypes.”
She also urged women to invest in learning, discipline and consistency, stressing that respect was earned through performance.
For Abigail, as Ghana’s armwrestlers continue to make their mark, she will remain where she is most effective at the table, ensuring the game is played right.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
As he had promised Aperkeh, the elderly man and his wife and three daughters stopped by Aperkeh’s parents’ house. Mr Amando and his family were preparing to settle in for the night.
“Brother Ben and family”, Mr Joshua Amando said warmly, “although I know you are here on a matter that can hardly be described as joyous, it is still good to see you. You are welcome. Please sit down while I bring you water”.
“Yes, we will take water, even though we are hardly thirsty, because this is our home”.
“Okay, Ben”, he started after they had drank, “Let me go straight to the point. My daughter Priscilla has told me about the goings on between her brother Aperkeh and our daughter Stella.
Before informing me, Priscilla had expressed concern to Aperkeh about some habits he is adopting, especially the late nights and the drinking. She tells me that one Saturday morning, she was there when Stella complained about his drinking and some girls who had come to the house to look for him, and he assaulted her.
I called him and complained, but all he could say was that I don’t know what caused him to react that way, so I could not judge him. Now he does not answer my calls.
I have sent Priscilla to his house to call him, but he has refused to come. Unfortunately, Ben, my son is a much different person than the young boy who completed university and started work at the bank. I am really embarrassed about his treatment of Stella”.
“Joshua, let me assure you that even though what is happening is very unfortunate, it will not affect our relationship.
We have been friends since childhood, and I thought that with their parents’ blessing, the relationship between Aperkeh and Stella would grow to become a blessing to all of us. But there appears to be a real challenge now.
Stella thinks that Aperkeh wants her out of his house, and indeed Aperkeh himself told me that, about an hour ago.
So I’m taking my daughter home. I suggest that you do what you can to straighten him out, but if it does not work out, let’s accept the situation and continue to be one family.
I am sure that being the well behaved girl that she is, Stella will meet a young man who will cherish her. Fortunately, this problem is happening early in the day, so they can sort things out if possible, or move on with their lives if they are unable to stay together”.
“I’m really grateful for that, Ben. I will do my best in the next few days to reason with him, because apart from the relationship with Stella, Aperkeh is risking his job and career with this lifestyle.
A good job and salary offers an opportunity to gather momentum in life, not to destroy yourself”.
“Okay Brother Joshua. We will say goodnight. I hope to hear positive news from you”.
As he descended in the lift from the fourth to the ground floor, Aperkeh wondered who would be waiting at the reception to see him at nine on Monday morning. He had spent good time with both of his new girls during the weekend, so it had to be someone else. He got out of the lift and pulled a face when he saw Priscilla.
“Priscilla”, he said as he sat down by her, “what do you want here? You know Monday morning is a busy time at the bank. I am a very busy person, so say what you want, I have work to do”.
“You are very funny, Aperkeh. You are telling me, your sister, that you have work to do, so I should hurry up? Okay, Dad says I should advise you to come home tonight, because he wants to discuss the issue of Stella with you. He sent me to you twice, and you did not come.
He has tried to call you quite a number of times, but you have refused to answer his calls. He says that if you do not come tonight, you will be very surprised at what he will do. He says you will not like it at all, so better come.
“What is all this? Why won’t you people leave me alone? Stella is very disrespectful. I told her that if she wanted to continue to live in my house, she must obey me. It is that simple.
She chose to continue ordering me about, controlling me in my own house, so I told her that if she could not live under my conditions she should leave. And she left. In fact, her own father came and took her away. So what again?’’
“How did she disobey or control you? Was she complaining about your continuous drinking and late nights? And did you slap her on several occasions because of that? Did you tell her that if she could not live under your conditions she should leave? You actually said that to her father? You have forgotten that before she came to live with you, our two parents met and agreed, and gave it their blessing?’
“Why don’t you leave, Priscilla? I don’t have to listen to all that”. “Okay, I will go. Your father who gave birth to you and educated you to university level sends me to you, and you ask me to leave? I wish you would defy him, and refuse to come home as he’s telling you, because he is planning to give you the discipline you badly need. Let me tell you. Stella is such a beautiful and decent girl, and I assure you that someone will grab her before you say Jack. You are only 30 years old, and you have already become a drunkard”.
As he walked towards the lift, Aperkeh decided on what to do. He would go home, and calmly listen to what his father had to say. The old man was very unpredictable, and he wouldn’t dare ignore him. So he would take all the insults and threats, but as for Stella she was history. According to Priscilla, Stella was beautiful and all that, but she had not seen the two curvaceous princesses who were all over him, ready to do anything he asked. And these were not barely literate waakye girls, but university graduates from wealthy homes, really classy girls. With stuff like that, who needs a waakye girl? He smiled as he took his seat.
A few minutes to five, Aperkeh was packing up to leave for home to meet his dad when his phone rang. It was Priscilla.
“Aperkeh, Dad says you don’t need to bother to come. Stella’s dad says she came to him early this morning to plead that she would rather stay at home than return to your house. She thinks you are already decided to be rid of her, and she does not want to risk being assaulted again. So it’s done. You can go ahead and enjoy the nice life you have started”.
Before he could tell her to go to hell, Priscilla hanged up the line. He was partially stung that his dad had virtually cut him off. The last thing anyone would want was to fall out of relationship with his own family, which had always supported him.
But the truth was he was no longer interested in Stella. What was wrong with going by one’s feelings? He could only hope that one day, his parents and sister would try to reason with him.
By Ekow de Heer
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
