Ghana’s Road to Nowhere: Why Enforcement Alone Won’t Save Lives
Ghana has seen over 2,500 lives lost on its roads in the past year alone, with daily fatalities averaging around eight people. This alarming trend has prompted a call to action from Director of the West Africa Regional Centre of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako.
A Broader Response Needed
According to Mr Adomako, Ghana's approach to road safety must change significantly, with the country's current strategy focused primarily on the work of traffic police and road safety agencies. He believes that a more comprehensive response is required, one that involves greater investment, stronger enforcement, and collective responsibility.
Mr Adomako noted that the scale of deaths recorded annually on Ghanaian roads demands greater urgency from the government. He argued that road crashes have become a serious threat to public safety, and that the government should consider declaring them a public health emergency. This, he believes, would allow for a more coordinated and effective response to the issue.
The COVID-19 Comparison
Mr Adomako drew a comparison between Ghana's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its approach to road safety. He noted that the government mobilised considerable financial and institutional resources to contain the pandemic, despite the relatively low number of deaths. In contrast, road safety has not received a comparable level of investment, despite the continuous loss of lives.
When COVID-19 arrived in Ghana, the government had less than 1,000 people dying from the disease within the period of 2020 and 2022. Mr Adomako believes that this highlights a major imbalance in the country's allocation of resources towards public safety. He argues that road safety should be treated as a long-term national priority, rather than an isolated issue that is only addressed after it occurs.
A More Visible Police Presence
Mr Adomako believes that a key part of the change needed in Ghana's approach to road safety is a more visible police presence on the country's roads. He argues that effective enforcement is necessary to influence driver behaviour and discourage violations that can lead to serious crashes. He welcomed the introduction of automated traffic offences under the new law, describing the use of technology as an important development in strengthening enforcement.
However, Mr Adomako stressed that new technology should complement, rather than replace, effective policing and other preventive measures. He also challenged the notion that responsibility for road safety rests primarily with specialised government institutions. Instead, he believes that motorists and the wider public must also play an active role in reducing road crashes.
A Collective Responsibility
Mr Adomako believes that road safety should be everyone's responsibility, not just the police, road safety agencies, or government institutions. He argues that government must provide the resources and systems necessary for prevention, while road users must also take responsibility for their conduct. He believes that this collective approach is necessary to reduce the number of lives lost on Ghana's roads.
The issue of road safety in Ghana is complex and multifaceted, requiring a comprehensive and coordinated response. While the government has taken steps to address the issue, more needs to be done to prevent the loss of lives on the country's roads. As Mr Adomako noted, the scale of deaths recorded annually on Ghanaian roads demands greater urgency and a more effective response from the government.
Source: Joy Online
