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Residents of Techiman, the Bono East regional capital have expressed worry about non functioning of traffic lights in the municipality with a call on authorities to urgently fix them.
According to them, the non functioning of all traffic signals in junctions in Techiman with the exception of one, had caused a lot of crashes among vehicles and pedestrians knockdowns.
Residents disclosed this when the pressmen visited some faulty traffic lights on Tuesday in Techiman to see how the movement of motorists and pedestrians were regulated.
Mr Issah Adams ,the assembly member of Kenten electoral area in Techiman said residents had experienced the abnormalities on the roads for couple of months with no assurance by authorities to fix them.
He noted that officers of the Motor Traffic Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police service (GPS) were at some selected junctions to control traffic movement with the exceptions of nights and weekends.
Mr Benjamin Sekyere, a rider of Indian begyai motor popularly known as pragyia said road users were confused upon reaching these junctions where there were no officer to direct their movements adding that they crossed at same time thereby causing crashes and knockdowns.
” we have complained to authorities to fix them through all radio phone – in segments in the municipality but to no avail and that the safety of both motorists and pedestrians are compromised” Miss Abena Kupor, a driver said.
The Techiman South Municipal Director of the department of urban roads, Mr Boakye – Boateng who spoke with the Ghanaian Times, attributed the non – functioning of traffic lights to broken down controllers underground.
Mr Boakye – Boateng noted that all the junction signals in Techiman would need an overhaul cabling and that he assured residents that they will be fixed.
He said traffic lights at Methodist junction, Zongo, Mayanka, Sunyani ring road, Ohene Ameyaw Park junction and market pelican crossing including the main ahenfie junction which is currently functioning, were awarded to two contractors.
The Bono East Regional Head of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Mr Emmanuel Akyeampong – Parry who spoke with the Ghanaian Times was worried about the sad development and that he appealed to authorities to fix them.
Mr Akyeampong – Parry advised motorists and pedestrians to reduce speed at junctions, watch out for other road users and make sure the road ahead were clear and free from any obstacle before crossing in order to avoid crashes and knockdowns.
Photo : Motorists and pedestrians crossing a junction at the same time. Insert is one of the faulty traffic signals.
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