Think Outside The Box And Make Our Roads Safer -Dwomoh Sarpong

Public commentator and environmental advocate, Nana Dwomoh Sarpong, has called on policymakers to fundamentally rethink Ghana’s transport management system to make the country’s roads safer and more efficient.

He expressed concern about the growing disorder on Ghana’s roads, particularly the combination of congestion, inadequate road infrastructure, road encroachment and the increasing interaction between different categories of road users.

Speaking against the backdrop of recent fatal road crashes, Nana Sarpong said urgent and comprehensive measures were needed to address what he described as serious weaknesses in the country’s transport system.

“We are not doing things right. Those responsible must act,” he stated.

He identified poor road infrastructure, severe traffic congestion and the unsafe interaction between smaller vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles and other vehicles on major roads as issues requiring urgent attention.

Use of Tricycles and Motorcycles

Nana Sarpong questioned the current management of motorcycles and commercial tricycles, popularly known as Aboboyaa and Pragya, particularly where they operate alongside high-speed traffic on major routes.

He noted that several countries regulate the movement of certain categories of smaller or slower vehicles on major urban roads and highways, and argued that Ghana could examine similar measures where appropriate.

Rather than allowing different categories of vehicles to compete for the same road space, he said transport planning should consider designated routes or dedicated lanes for slower and smaller commercial vehicles, where feasible.

Mass-Transit System

He also touched on Ghana’s inadequate rail and mass-transit infrastructure as a major challenge.

According to him, the absence of an efficient and integrated public transport system forces large numbers of commuters to depend heavily on road transportation, contributing to prolonged traffic congestion and placing additional pressure on existing roads.

Nana Sarpong argued that Ghana needs to move beyond simply constructing more roads and develop a coordinated transport system that integrates rail, buses, road networks and other forms of public transportation.

Road Encroachment

He further raised concerns about the continued encroachment on road reservations and rights-of-way, including buildings and commercial activities located too close to roads.

Such encroachment, he said, can restrict road capacity, create traffic bottlenecks and make future road expansion and rehabilitation more expensive, particularly where the government is required to pay compensation for affected properties.

He called for stronger enforcement of planning regulations and better protection of road reservations to prevent the problem from worsening.

Smaller, More Efficient Vehicles

Nana Sarpong also questioned whether simply increasing the number of smaller vehicles on the roads can, on its own, solve the country’s transportation challenges.

He argued that while smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles can help reduce fuel consumption and emissions, vehicle-size changes must form part of a broader transport strategy.

He encouraged motorists who currently use unnecessarily large and fuel-intensive vehicles to consider more fuel-efficient alternatives where practical, while emphasising that mass public transportation, improved traffic management and better urban planning are essential to addressing congestion.

“Importing more vehicles, whether large or small, cannot be the long-term solution to a transport system under pressure,” he said.

Nana Sarpong, therefore, urged the government and other stakeholders to move beyond piecemeal interventions and develop a long-term, integrated transport policy focused on road safety, efficient public transportation, proper land-use planning, effective enforcement and sustainable mobility.

He said a fundamental rethink of Ghana’s transport system was necessary to create safer roads and a more efficient transportation network for all Ghanaians.

 

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