"Disfigured signs with posters lose their usefulness" – Urban Roads Department

General News on Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Source: primenewsghana.com

2019-01-22

A number of signs in Accra have been disfigured with all kinds of posters. As a result, they lose their relevance, according to the Department of Urban Roads.

Traffic signs are intended to inform, warn and regulate the flow of traffic and people, including motorcycles, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians and other road users.

About 20 streets in Accra reported covering more than 100 road signs in Accra, a situation that resulted in road accidents.

There are also cases where billboards have been positioned to block some panels.

Some of the affected roads in Accra are Independence Avenue, the Kanda Highway, Independence Avenue, John Evans High Street Atta Mills, the Kojo Thompson Road, the Dr. Busia Highway, the N1 highway and the Graphic route.

Posters, ranging from very small stickers to larger ones, include political posters, advertisements for events, vacancy announcements, product sales and signage indicating direction.

Ms. Patricia Onny, Head of Engineering at the Roads Safety Unit of the Urban Roads Department, said the involvement was huge and could be deadly for all road users.

Ms. Patricia Onny said, "For example, if there is a speed bump and the board is covered, the person driving can hit him and this could result in injury, death or damage to those who find themselves in the vehicle as well as the vehicle itself.

Again, if there is a zebra crossing and the panel is covered, the driver would not know it and zoom in and the result is clear, "she added.

Ms Onny said that road safety is a collective responsibility and that the situation falls within the competence of the control agencies.

"In the Department of Urban Roads, everyone has their duty. We can not go strong. The badembly and the police are there to help Urban Roads solve implementation problems, "she said.

"I think it will be good if you also talk to the mayor about it. There should be regulations for everything if you manage a city and I know there are some. " Chief of Engineering at the Road Safety Unit of the Highways Department Highlighted.

& # 39; & # 39; That's why I want you to go to the badembly to find out; because it is a problem that the whole should be able to manage, "she concluded.

For his part, Mr. Esmond Ahiadekey, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), said the issue was to be addressed by the Department of Urban Roads.

The Communications Officer of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Kwame Koduah Atuahene, said that this development was the result of the general indiscipline of the public.

"If motorists are denied the benefit of these signs in their use of roads, the consequence is obvious. So, this is not a practice that should be encouraged, "he said.

Mr. Atuahene explained that, being a matter of indiscipline, the responsible law enforcement agency was to treat those responsible for the practice, in accordance with the law.

The Transportation and Traffic Department (MTTD) of the Ghanaian police said the development was not brought to his attention.

The MTTD Commander of Accra Central, Deputy Commissioner of Police (PVA), Mr. Anderson Fosu-Ackaah, is committed to addressing the issue.

"It's against the rules; we will have a team to go around and apprehend those responsible, "he said.