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Structures erected along the motorway. Picture: SAMUEL TEI ADANO
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Unauthorized settlements and slums along the Accra-Tema Motorway, coupled with the creation of illegal U-turns, have become a source of concern for motorists who ply the 19-kilometer highway.
The situation of stagnant 'pools' and heaps of filth along with stretch of road.
The slums, consisting of kiosks and metal containers, are concentrated in the area of the tollbooth at the Accra end of the Junction in Tema.
Referred to as "kiosk estates", the slums have become denser, some of which are emerging from their shake-ups, which have become more important, including batteries.
The residents, according to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), are also responsible for the darkness on the road because they are stingy and uncomfortable.
As a result of the illegal settlements, trotros, taxis and motorbikes often stop haphazardly on the highway to pick and drop pbadengers, despite the fact that vehicles are not supposed to stop on the highway.
And, most of the time, those commercial drivers fail to give signals of getting stuck on the road, leading to other vehicles crashing into them.
As a result of the lack of waste disposal receptacles and toilet facilities in the slums, the residents dump refuses anyhow and also defecate in the bushes along the road.
Situation in slums
A tour of the slums by the Daily Graphic further revealed that it was illegal, the structures enjoyed electricity and water supply.
There were also business activities, such as the sale of alcohol, cigarettes, commodities, foodstuffs and other items.
Some of the slums have video centers, parks for social activities and mini-football pitches.
It was also established that the structures were on government land; a few were located outside the Motorway Reservation on private lands.
At the KICC Slum, named after the Kingsway International Christian Church (KICC), a community leader, Felix Adzakpa, claimed that the number of people was more than 10,000.
"If you come here Sunday after church, we are more than 10,000," he said.
He admitted that they did not accept the land from any authority, saying: "When we came here, it was like a forest.
We cleared the place and erected our structures. Later, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) also provided water to this place, "Mr Adzakpa stated.
According to him, some of the dwellers of the slum had lived there for more than 10 years, and that the settlement came up slowly, over a period of 15 years.
He, however, denied that the slums were havens for criminals and said, on the contrary, the residents had been of help to motorists.
Mr Adzakpa said that he would not be allowed to stay on the motorway, but that it would be a good place to stay.
And when accidents occurred, the residents provided support for victims, some of whom were rushed to the hospital.
"The only problem we have is marijuana in the open and that is bad," he said.
He appealed to the government not to eject them because they did not have alternative dwelling places.
At another slum, known as "Trasacco" due to its proximity to the Trasacco Valley Estates, a community leader, Gideon Mate, said the residents were ready to relocate any time the need arose.
U-turns
The illegal U-turns on the motorway have been the cause of many accidents on the road.
A drive along the stretch revealed dangerous turns by both private and commercial vehicles.
There are about 40 illegal turns and paths along the entire stretch of the road, with the GHA blocking six of them with concrete boulders.
reactions
Reacting to the slum development, the Greater Accra Regional Director of the GHA, Mr Lawrence L. L. Lamptey, said the
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