AMA Boss Targets Bad Drivers

THE METROPOLITAN Chief Executive of Accra, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, had ordered for the arrest of all drivers who approach roundabouts without considering road signs regulations. According to Mr. Vanderpuije, the heavy traffic that occurs within the city are caused by drivers who do not know road signs or do not know how to use a roundabout. The AMA Boss gave the orders during an inspection tour on the new Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange-Apenkwa and Apenkwa-Mallam Junction road, also known as the George Walker Bush road to identify complaints on unnecessary hindrances and impediments that are causing traffic on the new road. According to him, the city authorities could not sit down and watch recalcitrant traders soil the image of the government, explaining that since the completion of the roads, 12 people have lost their lives as a result of illegal activities. The system, Mr. Vanderpuije noted, when adopted would help AMA succeed in ensuring a clean system on the roads and correct all illegal activities causing the unnecessary traffic on the new road. The AMA Boss further noted that with less than a month of the re-opening of the Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange-Apenkwa and Apenkwa-Mallam road, there is still traffic at some points at the belt line due to illegal attitudes of some drivers plying the road. The Accra belt line refers to the road that links Mallam Junction through to Sakaman to Ako Adjei Junction through to the Independence Avenue to 37 through airport to Tetteh Quarshie to Apenkwa Junction to Lapaz then back to Mallam Junction. Mr. Vandrpuije expressed shock at how most drivers at Nkrumah Circle used the inner lane instead of the outer lane causing unnecessary traffic within some few seconds. �Currently there are no rules applying on the roads within the Metropolis hence the unnecessary traffic and tension on the roads,� he said. The Assembly would ensure that all such drivers are arrested and have their cars confiscated. Mr. Vanderpuije directed Urban Roads to construct barricades at Sakaman Junction to prevent drivers from entering unauthorized places. �If we continue to allow commercial drivers to use the road any how, the re-opening of the road would be useless looking at the current traffic still on some parts on the road.� The AMA Boss therefore instructed that apart from the prevention of vehicles parked at unauthorized places and pedestrians crossing indiscriminately at unauthorized areas, the assembly would ensure that traders do not sell at unauthorized places. Mr. Vanderpuije reiterated that the Assembly, as part of measures to ensure an effective exercise, would ensure that the AMA task force confiscates any vehicle found at any unauthorized area. He said the Assembly would ensure that an additional footbridge is constructed at Apenkwa-Lapaz as soon as possible. Touching on traders at Apenkwa-Lapaz, he said the Assembly would engage them in a serious battle until all of them move away from the shoulders of the street. Mr. Vanderpuije, as part of the exercise and measure being taken by the assembly, gave car dealers at Apenkwa-Lapaz 24 hours to leave the place before the said cars are impounded. He was accompanied by officials from the Ghana Road Safety Commission, the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit and the Ghana Fire Service.