Stay Alive On George Walker Bush Motorway

Reports say that, as at last Friday, February 24, this year, about ten lorry accidents have been recorded on the Tetteh Qyarshie � Mallam highway, christened George Walker Bush Highway. About 15 are said to have lost their lives through the crashes. The highway and the Mallam Interchange were officially opened on February 16 jointly by President John Evans Ata Mills and former President John Agyekum Kuffour. In his speech at the ceremony, President Mills noted the importance of the 14 kilometre road, and encouraged the general public, motorists and all stakeholders to take good care of the road, among others, provided under the Millennium Challenge Account. But what is happening now on the road does not show our appreciation for the president�s admonition. It is sad and appalling that only a few days after the multi-million dollar road was commissioned, as many as 15 deaths, through crashes, should be recorded on the road. Some drivers are yet to understand the reasons for the provision of such first class roads as the Tema Motorway and the George Walker Bush Highway, a three-lane dual carriage way. The highway links the Tema Motorway from the Tetteh Quarshie interchange to the Mallam Junction, from the were the heavy-duty vehicles from Tema Harbour and other road users will exit to other parts of the country. And it is not proper for motorists to abuse the facility through over-speeding, especially in the nights when traffic eases, and endangering the life of pedestrians and passengers. The highway is not a car-racing course; over-speeding on it is very tempting, and it must be resisted at all cost because it has serious consequences. It must be use cautiously. The nation was thrown into mourning everyday of last year as a result of lorry accidents which claimed four lives on average daily. Most of the accidents occurred because of human errors, including disrespect for road regulations. It is sad because, even the deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has not claimed lives on this scale. Already, reports about the number of accidents recorded so far, since the start of the year, are discouraging � they suggest that the situation will not be different from that of last year unless care is taken. The problems involved in the use of the road are many and complex, and it is good that the Millennium Development Authority (MIDA) has issued the under listed guidelines, to both Motorists and Pedestrians, on the crossing of the road. It states: �The re-design of the 14.1 km section of the N1 Highway (George Walker Bush Motorway) into a 3-lane dual carriageway, demands changes in the behavior of Pedestrians an indeed, Motorists. �Pedestrian crossings have been provided at specific points on the motorway, and pedestrians are required to use only these crossing points. �Crossing at unauthorized points may cause accidents, and endanger lives. These are avoidable accidents. �The speed limit for motorists on the motorway in built � up areas, is 50kph. All motorists are entreated to observe these limits, and avoid unnecessary accidents�. Without doubt, observing these rules will greatly prevent accidents, and The True Statesman newspaper hopes that the MiDA will truly go by its word to �work with the Ghana Highway Authority (GHC), National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), the Ghana police Service and the metropolitan/municipal assemblies, to enforce rules and regulations on the motorway�.