Accra Central Business Roads to be rehabilitated

Procurement processes have been initiated for the construction of 10 kilometres of roads in the Accra Central Business area.

The roads would be reconstructed with buried drains, pedestrian walkways and associated traffic signals and street lighting and it is expected that by December 2003, the contract for the works would have been awarded for construction to start.

Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Transport, said this in Parliament on Thursday when Nii Adu Darku Mante, NPP- Klotey Korle, in an urgent question asked what steps the Ministry was taking to ensure that the 28th February Road and the High Street in Accra were put in a condition to benefit their present ceremonial status.

The Minister said the 28th February and High Street formed part of selected roads to be reconstructed under the Accra Central Business Roads Development Project.

The other roads included the Barnes, Zongo Lane/Asafoatse Nettey Street, Pagan/ Club/ Thorpe, Commercial Street/ Okaitey Nettey Kinbu, Selwyn Market/Amonakwa Derby Avenue and Feron roads.

Dr Anane said at the moment, the consultant to review the design had been selected and negotiations completed for the consultancy contract to be signed by the end of May 2003.

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, NDC- Fanteakwa, in another urgent question asked the Minister of Roads and Transport whether he would consider as a matter of urgency the construction of rumble strips at Osino on the main Accra-Kumasi Highway to forestall the numerous accidents that have taken the lives of many pedestrians and wayside traders at Osino over the past few months.

Dr Anane said Osino Township lies on the Bunso-Anyinam section of the Accra-Kumasi road that was currently under reconstruction but the Ministry had no immediate plans of constructing of rumble strips there.

He, however, gave the assurance that appropriate safety measures including signalisation and road-line markings would be incorporated in the works to forestall the incidence of accidents on that section of the road.

Dr Anane said in the meantime, the Ministry through the National Road Safety Commission was collaborating with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) to enforce the speed limit in towns including the Osino corridor.

He said in addition Government would introduce a Bill before Parliament to empower the MTTU to impose spot fines on traffic offenders to ensure that motorists adhered to traffic regulations.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo in a supplementary question said since the area over the past year had recorded over 10 deaths through accidents with many others sustaining injuries, if the Minister would reconsider and ensure that speed rumps were put on the road to save the lives of especially the traders in the town.

Dr Anane, however, said Highways were not expected to have rumble strips and the Ministry would not encourage it but added that the Police would be expected to strengthen their patrols and also ensure the erection of road signs.

Mr Ofosu - Ampofo asked whether the construction of rumble strips was done on selective basis since some towns on some highways such as Suhum and Ejisu on the Accra - Kumasi road and on the Accra-Akosombo road had speed rumps.

Mr Kwakye Addo, NDC-Afram Plains South, asked whether communities could put up their own road strips and the Minister said it was unfortunate that the communities did not seek expert advice before doing so adding that it was illegal to do so.

Alhaji Amadu Ali, NDC- Atebubu South, asked what measures were being put in place to discourage the haphazard construction of speed rumps and the Minister said the National Road Safety Commission was to educate the public on traffic regulations.

Dr Kwame Ampofo, NDC- South Dayi, asked whether the Minister was aware that some of the speed rumps did not have warning signals on their approaches thus posing a danger to motorists and the Minister said in areas where they have been constructed by the requisite agencies the warning signals have been installed and that the Ministry would ensure that all other rumps had warning signals.