The Municipal Chief Executive of Okaikwei North Municipality, Boye Laryea is initiating processes to prosecute commercial drivers who pick and drop passengers at unapproved locations within the Municipality.
The directive when in force will also criminalize passengers who board commercial vehicles at unapproved points.
Citing the frequency of pedestrian knockdowns at the Naa Densua Plaza at Achimota for instance, Mr. Laryea stated that the place had to be blocked to avert further pedestrian deaths.
Questioning why the Achimota Transport Terminal, the largest in West Africa is underutilized by the residents, the Okaikwei North MCE stated that it is crucial the narrative must change to save human lives.
The Achimota Transport Terminal, inaugurated in December, 2009, aims at reducing congestion on the Accra-Nsawam road. It can accommodate 800 vehicles and includes other facilities such as a police station and a clinic.
But the facility is barely patronized by pedestrians who rather board commercial vehicles at the roadside at the peril of their lives.
However, speaking at a Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Laryea indicated the laws must work while indiscipline among drivers on the road are dealt with.
He disclosed that jay walkers will be punished according to the law stressing that it is preposterous to cross the George Walker Bush Highway (N1) at an unapproved point.
The MCE explained that the Assembly is mandated to protect lives and property.
Mr. Laryea further disclosed that the Kopevi link road will be opened to join the main road to ease the traffic on the main road and to reduce the burden of going through to Mile Seven to make U-turns.
He urged residents’ whose properties will be affected by the construction to take it in good fate, indicating that Chiefs and Opinion Leaders in the community must assist to address issues expected to emanate from the construction of the road.
Touching on ‘Operation Clean Your Frontage’, the MCE noted that the campaign is still in force in the Municipality and that it is no longer the duty of the government to desilt gutters and clean the surroundings for residents.
He cautioned that offenders will be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.
The MCE answered the questions of the participants ranging from, sanitation, health, security and infrastructural development among others.
Participants at the meeting were chiefs, queen mothers, traders, artisans, Assemblymen, staff of the assembly among others.
source Kofi Yirenkyi