The Centre for Road Safety and Accountability-Africa (CROSA), says as a matter of urgency, all potholes on major roads should be filled as started some time ago, while permanent solutions are found to the problem.
Mr. Frank Yirenkyi, Executive Director of CROSA said, in this direction, access routes in towns and cities could be improved either through gravelling or grading to make it more motorable in the interim until permanent solutions are found.
He said major roads that are unmarked should be marked to improve road safety in the country.
�It is surprising that most of these potholes are left unattended to until they get worse before they are attended to when it could have taken little efforts and resources to put them in order. Most of our major roads have either no road markings, or faded markings example Tema motorway roundabout to Akosombo road and driving on it at night have become a death trap,� he said.
Mr. Yirenkyi gave the recommendation during the maiden CROSA news Conference on the state of Ghana�s roads, challenges and the way forward in Accra on Tuesday.
He said there is the need for an effective monitoring of road contractors while the bad ones are blacklisted.
�Monitoring of road construction and maintenance work, disclosing illegal dealings and poor constructional works should be a national mandate for all citizens to possibly reduce the carnage on our roads, promote efficient use of our roads and offer alternative suggestions to the issues.�
The Executive Director of CROSA noted that, according to the National Road Safety Commission�s (NRSC) 2013 report, road accidents took 1,539 lives and it was an indication that, the phenomenon killed more people than HIV and AIDS and cholera, yet much attention is not placed on it by stakeholders.
He said Asikuma junction, Suhum-Nkawkaw-Apedwa, Enchi-Dadeaso, Berekum-Sampa, Dorman Ahenkro, Ashiaman-Nungua, Agona-Elubo and Bolgatanga-Bawku roads are some of the major deplorable roads that are causing inconveniences to motorist and pedestrians, and need immediate attention.
�Aside these roads, most access roads within towns and cities have become unmotorable, making most motorist resort to the use of the main roads creating vehicular traffic
Nana Kofi Adu II, Chief of Akpalu Traditional Area and a Senior Fellow to CROSA urged the media to show commitment by propagating road safety messages.
CROSA is a non-governmental road advocate organization that works hand in hand with the National Road Safety Commission and Ghana Private Road Transport Union to educate the public on road safety as well as bringing pressure to bear on government and other stakeholders to ensure safety on the roads.
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