Don’t block roads during Yuletide - Police caution public

The Accra Regional Police Command has cautioned the public against the mounting of road blocks for social activities during the Christmas and the New Year festivities without police notification.

It said offenders would face the full rigours of the law.

The caution followed concerns raised by some members of the public about the mounting of road blocks for activities such as concerts, opening of shops, fun fairs and birthday parties, thereby creating inconvenience for residents and road users.

“We anticipate that within this festive period people will organise a number of outdoor events. They must make sure they include the police in the planning, especially if the events will lead to the blocking of roads,” the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police  (DSP) Mrs Effia Tenge, said.

She said persons who flouted the law would be arrested and prosecuted after the police had reopened such roads to motorists.

Interview

Speaking to the Daily Graphic yesterday, Mrs Tenge said the police had taken serious note of the blocking of roads in some communities in the region during the Yuletide.

She said it was unlawful to block a road without permission from the police, explaining that notifying the police would not only ensure security but also enable them to manage traffic by suggesting alternative routes for easy movement of persons and vehicles.

“If a person is organising any major event where the movement of people is required, he has to notify the police. We have people blocking roads unduly; nobody has the authority to block roads without notifying the police," she added.

The PRO cited Regulation 185 of Road Traffic Regulation 2012, L.I. 2180, to back her position.

It states that a person shall not, without lawful authority or without excuse, cause a thing to be on or over a road or pedestrian walkway to interfere with the safe and free movement of a motor vehicle, trailer, motorcycle or likely to cause injury to pedestrians, road users and damage to property.

 “A person who contravenes the law is liable to summary conviction to a fine of not less than 10 penalty units and not more than 25 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than 30 days or both,” it adds.

Notification process

Mrs Tenge said event organisers who had to block roads for their events would have to, in addition to notifying the local assembly in their areas, also involve the police within their jurisdictions in the planning of the event.

She said after securing a permit from the local assembly, and the police notified, the latter would have to inspect the venue for the event and map out alternative roads for easy diversion.

Additionally, she said, the police could give advance notice to the public and motorists who might be using that particular road.