In the heart of Mallam Market — one of Accra’s busiest trading spots — a single broken traffic light has turned a vital intersection into a daily hazard.
What seems like a minor fault is, in reality, a disaster waiting to happen for drivers, pedestrians and traders alike.
Without a functioning light to control the chaos, vehicles cross each other’s paths at random.
Taxis, trotros, delivery trucks and private cars all fight to pass through, weaving in and out without clear right-of-way.
Horns blare and tempers flare as frustrated drivers push through the gridlock, replacing the calm order a working light should provide with noise and confusion.
For thousands who work and shop here daily, it’s more than an inconvenience — it’s a real threat to life.
Many traders, shoppers and children must cross the road carrying heavy goods, weaving through moving vehicles that often don’t slow down.
The risk is obvious.
Unnecessary threat
Ghana’s National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has repeatedly warned that poorly maintained traffic systems are a major cause of road accidents in the country.
According to figures from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), over 1,600 people died on Ghana’s roads in 2023 alone — many due to collisions at unmanaged or broken intersections.
At Mallam Market, traders say this one light has been out for weeks.
“We watch cars nearly crash every day,” says Adiza, a vegetable seller who sets up her stall by the intersection.
“It’s only a matter of time before someone is killed.”
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is tasked with maintaining traffic lights across the city.
But limited budgets, spare parts shortages, and the sheer number of faulty signals mean many lights stay broken for weeks or months.
Not isolated
Mallam’s intersection is not an isolated case. Across Accra — from Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Madina and Kaneshie — broken lights are a familiar sight.
Many of these traffic systems are outdated and easily damaged by power cuts, reckless drivers or weather conditions.
Once they break, repairs are slow to come.
To make matters worse, impatient drivers often ignore even working signals.
It’s common to see cars speed through red lights, overtake dangerously at junctions or push their way into crowded crossings.
This reckless driving, combined with faulty signals, creates a deadly mix on busy urban roads.
For pedestrians, especially traders who carry goods on their heads or guide young children across, the danger doubles. Crossing without clear signals or marked pedestrian lanes can feel like gambling with one’s life.
Behind every road accident is a story of grief.
A broken traffic light might seem insignificant, but when it leads to an accident, the damage spreads far beyond the immediate victims.
Families lose breadwinners and face hospital bills they cannot afford. Small businesses lose employees.
The national economy loses millions each year in productivity.
Experts agree that most of these tragedies are preventable.
Regular repairs, stricter road rule enforcement, and better driver discipline can all reduce accidents dramatically.
But year after year, the same issues persist.
At Mallam, frustration has turned into anger.
Traders and residents ask why the Urban Roads Department or city engineers have not yet fixed the light.
Must a tragedy happen before anyone takes action?
Community leaders say they have reported the fault multiple times.
Some traders have gone so far as to contribute money to hire a volunteer to direct traffic during rush hour.
But a volunteer with a whistle cannot replace a working traffic light.
Preventable crisis
Mallam Market’s broken light is just one example of a bigger problem: road safety basics are neglected far too often in Ghana’s cities.
When a simple piece of infrastructure breaks, it should not be normal for thousands of people to risk injury or death every day.
Accra’s busy roads need well-maintained traffic lights, clear pedestrian crossings and visible road markings.
They also need drivers to respect road rules, not ignore them when convenient.
Call, urgent repairs
It should not take a tragic accident to remind authorities that fixing traffic lights is just as important as any other public safety measure.
If the AMA and Urban Roads Department treat every broken light as an urgent public threat — not a minor repair — lives can be saved.
For now, the traders and commuters at Mallam can only hope that no one pays the ultimate price before the signal is fixed.
One broken light should never stand between a bustling community and its safety.
Ghana’s roads must not stay dark when one fix could shine a light on safer days ahead.
The writer is a graduate of Ghana Communication Technology University. Currently working with KFC
