(Memoires and lamentations of Kwabena Amikaketo (35)
Kwabena Amikaketo sat in his favourite chair on his balcony, viewing the setting sun which was making way for the shadows to grow longer and soon cover his part of the world like some dark blanket.
That evening his mind was again on the efforts made by Hon. Henry Quartey, the new Greater Accra regional minister, to turn Accra into a beautiful and orderly city. To date no regional minister in the view of Kwabena had personally taken the responsibility to see that law and order work in the capital city.
Kwabena, however, admitted to himself that Henry Quartey may not achieve this within four years, what is most important here is that by the end of 2024, he should be able to take Accra to a level that even if he is replaced and put into a higher office, no one can reverse the process.
Kwabena can see an in-coming New Patriotic Party government in 2025, reposting Henry to head the region. Kwabena can then envisage an area from Kokrobitey in the West through to Ada in the South East, from Asutsuare and Volivo in furthest North East to Akotuako, close to the Eastern Region border on the North West, turned around into a beautiful land mass rich in industrial, business and tourism. An area kept neat and orderly, but the efforts to be made to achieve this will not be easy or done within four years.
Kwabena concentrated on Accra, the capital and contemplated on the following:
Road Networks: Roads built in the capital were just good roads if they are to be classified as such but they are certainly not modern roads. To Kwabena, the planners of the roads do not think far into the future when they design the roads. For within a few months after such roads are open to traffic, the congestion seems worse than before. The heavy traffic at the underbridge from the Spintex road to East Legon is a case to be considered. An interchange should have been constructed on the Boundary road instead of putting up traffic lights and that also goes for the Spintex road side of the Legon underpass route.
Another matter for dual carriageways in the capital which made Kwabena wonder as to what went into the designing of such essential roads are the large tracts of land between the roads. Some are as wide as the width of football fields and left to lay waste, overgrown with weeds because the Department of Parks and Gardens do not have funds to grow and maintain flowers and manicured lawns there.
He would suggest that such areas are opened for side-ways extension of the roads to take up more vehicular traffic.
Easing of Traffic: To ease traffic in the capital, at least one circular road could be constructed which will be high-speed zone where drivers could access areas of the city without first having to go through the busy inner districts. For instance, someone from Teshie driving towards Weija can take the circular road to quickly access the West from the East without contesting for space through the Graphic Road, the Nkrumah Interchange or La-Paz junction.
Access and town roads, even though they are there do not seem to exist for the purpose they are constructed for, because they are almost inaccessible due to their nature: rough roads, roads full of potholes, roads almost covered with vegetation among others are what Ghanaians have in the capital.
Opening up of such important roads could further ease traffic on the major ones and to Kwabena this is very necessary.
Emergency Routes: Kwabena lamented on how emergency situations are not considered in the capital. He could cite two examples and they were medical facilities. The Family Health Hospital in Teshie, opposite the Kofi Annan institution, is one. When one has to go to that hospital and he or she is from Teshie area, they will have to ply the dual carriageway with the entrance of the hospital at the Teshie bound side of the carriageway and go 700 meters towards the Next Door resort and drive back another 700 meters after joining the eastbound side of carriageway before getting to the entrance of the hospital. 1.4 kilometer journey which could have been cut to zero if only a turning was made on that side of the road around the Kofi Annan institute.
The other hospital in the capital which faces such problem is the C n J Medical Center in Sakumono. Just opposite the southern end of this facility is a major junction with traffic lights linking those from Sakumono to the Accra-Ashiamanroad. Instead of opening up the space between the traffic lights, creating a cross-road with the southern gate of the hospital made easily accessible for patients from Sakumono and the Nungua area, the planners decided it would be better for the sick and the dying to go further north and trek for about 950 meters before negotiating a “U”-Turn and heading back another 950 meters before entering the hospital. A journey of almost two kilometres while someone’s life is in danger.
Is it because these two equally important hospitals are private facilities so no one up there cares about how the sick and dying access them? Ridge hospital has a turning from the Asylum area and Ridge Circle right near the hospital, 37 Military Hospital has a turning right opposite the main gate with set of traffic lights to ensure orderliness to and fro that health facility.
Turning and Entering Major Roads: Kwabena was amazed at what resulted in the minds of those high profile experts to decide to transfer the congestion of traffic at the Labone junction area to the Veterinary junction.
Already the Veterinary junction is always a traffic congestion hub during rush hours especially in the evening. Adding on traffic to Labone junction is not a very good idea.
The simple solution to the problem is to redesign the Labone junction as is the La “T” junction. The heavy vehicular traffic that flows from and into Labone can be managed when traffic lights are mounted at the junction and free access from either side of the road made available.
Also Kwabena would have advised that the same thing is constructed at the Veterinary junction so that the traffic lights would decide who goes where and when. Another set of traffic lights can be helpful at the junction between the Anglican Church at South La Estates and the entrance into La Township. Going further up to the junction to the Teshie-Rasta road it will also be necessary to also redesign that road turning into what pertains at the La “T” junction.
Everywhere in the capital which faces this problem must be addressed like this.
The Kpeshie Bridge: Kwabena kept wondering why the Kpeshie Bridge has not been completed about seven or so years when work on it suddenly halted. The occasional repair works on the metal slaps should not be the lasting solution, since one day they may cave in, resulting in fatalities.
Drainage Systems and Sanitation: Kwabena lamented over the state of sanitation and the drainage system in the capital. To him the best solution is to make sure all open drains are covered and storm drains constructed at flood prone areas. Garbage bins must be what should litter the city and not rubbish and garbage. Every house must have places of convenience and bathrooms and such should also be constructed in public places like bus terminals.
No Need to Pull Down Buildings in Waterways: To Kwabena, pulling down buildings in waterways should not be the last resort. Good engineers could come out with construction of underground storm drains to divert the flood waters. Sitting on top of these storm drains could be beautifully laid out townships.
Pulling down buildings are always left with structures and bushes that accommodate miscreants and pests. The beauty of the area is always challenged.
Pavements are Walkways, not commercial centers. The well designed Kwame Nkrumah interchange had enough space marked for pedestrians and motor bikes, but what do we have, Kwabena lamented, the space has been taken over by traders. And as the case is everywhere, the pedestrians have to compete with the motorists on the road.
Kwabena would advise the minister to resolve this problem and damn all the nonsense talk that it could affect political fortunes of the ruling party. Like Col Minyila, he must leave a very good and lasting legacy when he leaves office. And clearing the pavements must be another important item on his long list of “Must-Dos.” It will not be necessary to construct speed rams when the pedestrians would always have the pavements to use and when they need to cross the road, they can use the zebra-crossing or foot bridges or subways that is if Henry Quartey will start constructing some in the capital.
Traffic Lights Management: Kwabena wondered whether he was the only one who always felt peeved off, going through the green lights of one traffic lights and having to stop at the red lights of another just a few meters away. Whenever he visited countries in the West, he always noticed that whenever lights go green or red all traffic lights on that stretch of road will be of the same colour. It made driving very comfortable. He hoped Henry would have time to address this issue.
Traffic Management: The lawlessness on the roads is very legendary, Kwabena lamented. Motorbike riders criss-cross every square centimetre of space disregarding other road users and the traffic lights.
Slower and larger vehicles like articulators occupy fast lanes on dual carriageways and some give the excuse that with the load they are carrying, the safest place would be in the fast lanes. The question is where would they ply when they get into single carriageways? The laws must be applied here to punish all offenders.
Security Matters: Kwabena Amikaketo was always concerned about security in the capital and in everywhere else. If only the neighbourhood watchdog committees could be re-established and the members get well trained in security matters; if they could be well equipped and resourced; if they could have direct access to the police and other security agents and if they get really paid well, security in every neighbourhood would be much assured.
Kwabena started feeling stressed out and decided to go to bed. He would come back to this issue about one of his favourite ministers, the gentle giant reincarnate, Hon Henry Quartey. He blew a good night kiss to him wherever he may be and retired to bed.
Hon Daniel Dugan
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.
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