The Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, Hon. Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has raised concerns over the failure of pedestrians to use designated footbridges, leading to avoidable road accidents and fatalities.
Addressing Parliament in a statement, the MP who is also a Deputy Minority Whip stressed how pedestrian footbridges were constructed to enhance road safety, yet many citizens ignore them, choosing instead to cross busy roads at unauthorized points.
“Despite the significant investments made in constructing pedestrian footbridges, we continue to witness disturbing trends where people fail to use these structures, often out of convenience or impatience,” he stated.
Hon. Shaib emphasized the alarming rate of pedestrian accidents caused by jaywalking, particularly in high-traffic areas such as Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi.
“Many of these incidents could have been avoided if pedestrians simply adhered to the safer option of using footbridges. The loss of lives and serious injuries due to this negligence is unacceptable,” he stressed.
According to him, non-compliance undermines the government’s investment in road safety infrastructure and urged authorities to take decisive action.
Hon. Shaib proposed a four-point strategy to curb pedestrian accidents,, urging collaboration between Parliament, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), and the Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service.
Public Awareness Campaigns – He called for intensified education through mass media, community outreach, and school programs to inform pedestrians about the dangers of jaywalking.
Enforcement of Road Safety Laws – He suggested the implementation of fines for pedestrians who fail to use footbridges and for drivers who disregard pedestrian safety.
Design and Accessibility Improvements – The MP urged the government to ensure footbridges are accessible to all, including the elderly and persons with disabilities, and to enhance their usability through better lighting and signage.
Collaboration with Traffic Authorities – He recommended deploying traffic wardens and community police assistants to high-risk areas to guide pedestrians and ensure compliance, particularly during peak hours.
Hon. Shaib also urged the Minister of Roads and Highways to prioritize the completion of the footbridge at Tetegu in his constituency, emphasizing its urgent need for pedestrian safety.
“The ongoing footbridge construction at Tetegu must be completed and commissioned for use as soon as possible. We cannot afford to have uncompleted safety infrastructure while lives are at risk,” he appealed.
Hon. Ahmed Shaib stressed that road safety is a collective responsibility and urged pedestrians to use the footbridges as intended.
“The government continues to invest in infrastructure, but it is equally important that we take responsibility for our actions. The failure of pedestrians to use footbridges is a societal issue that affects us all,” he said.