MP worried over N1 Highway accidents
In a statement on the floor of Parliament, Mr Boamah said the latest incident occurred on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, involving a renowned Ghanaian actress, Nana Ama Mcbrown whose car was ran into by another car.
He said a few weeks ago, an eight year old girl on her way to school was knocked down and killed by a saloon car on the highway, an incident which sparked protests by the youth of the area who demanded the construction of footbridges on the road to avert further casualties.
According to Mr Boamah, the Association of Persons with Disabilities had also raised issues about the unfriendliness of the facilities on the overhead foot bridges which denies them access to cross the N1 Highway.
The Millennium Challenge Account, the MP said had explained that the foot bridges were too high and persons with disabilities had to ferry themselves to the nearest traffic light to cross the road thus exposing themselves to great danger.
He said there were no reflectors on the aluminium rails at the Dimples roundabout making it impossible for a first time auto user of the road to notice the sharp roundabout from a distance.
Mr Boamah added that some of the road users totally ignore road signs where they exist adding that there are "No Stopping for Any Reason” signs along the highway but on using the road one could count many parked trucks on it.
Again, some drivers exceeded the 50km/h speed limit imposed on vehicles as the highway passes through busy communities towards Mallam Junction.
Mr Boamah added another issue worth mentioning was the suddenly changed life for the users of the road who usually crossed over to the other side of the road in transit to their various communities.
The MP said many of them complained that the overhead bridges and the traffic lights were too far between and thus compelled them to jump over the concrete rails to other side of the road.
He, however, commended the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for facilitating the installation of solar traffic lights on the N1 in their bid to curb the occurrence of accidents on the road.
Mr Boamah also expressed appreciation to the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) for sending formal complaints to the Accra City Engineering Department and deploring its personnel to the road to ensure sanity.
He, however, called for more consultations among stakeholders to address the problem.
Story by Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
