Ho-Denu Highway drivers asked to avoid over-speeding

Mr. Sebastian Akyeampong, Volta Regional Manager of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) on Tuesday called on drivers plying the Ho-Denu highway to avoid over-speeding to prevent accidents.

A spot on that highway on Monday recorded the latest of its fatal accidents that claimed the life of Madam Rebecca Emefa Suetor, a fruit seller in the Ho Central market.

Eyewitnesses told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the driver of a KIA mini-bus loaded with pineapples somersaulted when its back tyre burst.

The spot close to Akwettey Junction was said to have recorded two fatal accidents two weeks ago.

The eyewitnesses said rituals needed to be performed at the spot to exorcise the spirits of the deceased to stop the cycle of fatal accidents there.

However, Mr. Akyeampong said the solution to the problem was for drivers to observe speed limits and stop unnecessary overtaking.

He said the NRSC and the Ghana Highway Authority would visit the area and look at the design of the road and consider improving engineering works there.

Mr. Akyeampong told a mid-year review meeting last weekend that, the Ho-Denu and Ho-Asikuma highways recorded the most serious fatalities in the region in the last six months.

He said the region recorded 452 road crashes in the first half of the year, in which 98 people died and 535 injured.

Mr. Akyeampong said 82 people were knocked down by vehicles during the period, with the Keta Municipality recording 32 cases, being the most serious ‘knock-downs” cases.**