Ghanaians, Remain Disclipined on our Roads!

I have deliberately used this picture both here and on my sister blog on this link here: http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-i-told-daily-graphic-about.html. This is because for the past few days, there have been too many road crashes and attendant deaths that are totally unnecessary. My fellow citizens often fail to adhere to road safety rules--especially the commercial drivers -- who are too quick anad too keen to make as much sales as possible in a day they flout all kinds of road laws for the bottom line.

Simply put: KEEP SAFE! DRIVE SAFELY!

Thirteen Curves on the Accra-Cape Coast Highway

Every 1 July is Ghana's Republic Day. As such, it is celebrated as a holiday, affording many Ghanaians working in Accra to trek back to the village/town to see family.

Whatever the motive might be, the travel bug is always alive around this time--and this time it hit my family, prompting us to go to the lush, verdant Central Region--some two hours away from the capital--to attend to family matters.

Getting back--never mind going there--was hair-raising, on account of the so-called "13 curves" on the Accra Cape-Coast Highway. Never mind that many drivers driving like bats out of hell may be oblivious to the inconspicuous signboard of "13 curves", the notice is there!

In between hilly and undulating roads that can beat what I have seen of San Fransisco in TV shows anyday, these 13 curves are not to be sneezed at.

As to whether police are ensuring that drivers slow down before and after these curves is a moot point. They are stationed on the highway alright, but there are clearly not enough  to stop thirteen curves from leading to reckless driving which will lead to "thirteen ghosts"!

Ghana's Precarious Record on Road Safety Needs Revision...Now!

The call is more of an appeal than anything. Lets face it: Ghanaians can sometimes be an indiscplined bunch--as exemplified by this picture here, where a "heavy duty" truck is parked on the first lane of a motorway...without hazard lights.

Apart from the fact that the Ghana police is nowhere to be found, other things are found wanting:

1. a number--preferrably toll-free--to call to report cases like these;

2. a number--perhaps a twitter account of a news outlet, or the National Road Safety Commission--to report such cases;

I don't have the statistics, but simply put: too many Ghanaians die on the road every year--and this can be avoided if we put some small steps into place.