Filmmaker Samuel Whyte reveals the inspiration behind his self-initiated 'Road Safety' campaign
Samuel Whyte, a filmmaker and advocate for road safety in Ghana, recently shared the driving force behind his motivation and selfless efforts in advocating for road safety since April 2019.
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In a phone interview from his residence in Accra, he disclosed that witnessing the tragic death of a woman in a car accident ignited a strong determination within him to prevent such incidents from occurring again.
Whyte believes that his presence at the scene of the accident was no coincidence, and he now sees his involvement in road safety advocacy as a calling to which he wholeheartedly dedicates his time, energy, and resources.
Whyte narrated the painful experience that served as a turning point in his life, leading him to become an advocate for road safety.
"On that fateful night around 8pm, after using the ATM, I was walking towards the roadside to find a vehicle to go home when I noticed a crowd at a bus stop. Out of curiosity, I decided to investigate what was happening, and to my surprise, I discovered a woman lying on the ground with blood coming from her nostrils and mouth, and her bones fractured. Apparently, she had been hit by a public transport vehicle that fled the scene. After a few minutes, the woman passed away right in front of me. It was at that moment that I asked myself what I could do to prevent such tragedies from happening again. And that's how my journey as a 'Road Safety' advocate began," he explained.
Despite the harrowing experience, the filmmaker-turned-road safety advocate has no regrets about being a witness to the fatal accident.
Instead, he describes it as a "calling of destiny." "I believe that I am meant for this purpose, and for some reason, I see this as my calling. If that's the case, I wholeheartedly accept it, embracing the responsibility with faith and determination. I am prepared to serve and educate the public through any means possible because our goal is to save lives and reduce accidents on our roads," he stated.
Whyte recounted numerous instances when he voluntarily assisted in various road-related challenges across different parts of Ghana. He described some of these moments as spontaneous but also highlighted his preparedness.
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"I would keep 10 to 20 warning triangles in the rear of my vehicle, so that anytime, day or night, I noticed a vehicle parked incorrectly, posing a risk to oncoming traffic, I would place a warning triangle a few meters away at a strategic point. This way, oncoming vehicles could see it and avoid crashing into the parked vehicle. I did all of this using my own resources, without any sponsorships or assistance from organizations or individuals. There were even days when I would park my own vehicle, regardless of where I was headed, just to help direct and manage traffic situations, while also calling the nearest available Police Motor Traffic Transport Department to take over until the traffic lights were repaired," he shared.
Samuel Whyte's consistent efforts in raising road safety awareness are gradually gaining attention on social media. Recently, blogger Kobi Kyei joined the filmmaker on some of his outdoor campaigns.
Whyte has also received recognition for his work in emphasizing the importance of safe streets in Ghana.
In 2021, he was honoured as the 'Youth Ambassador of the Year' at the 'African Icons Awards' for his contributions to road safety advocacy."