General News of Saturday, 10 November 2018
Source: Mynewsgh.com
2018-11-10
President Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo has expressed his condolences to the family of the student who lost her life at Adenta, revealing that in his opinion the problem at Madina Adenta is as a result legacies of the past decade, MyNewsGh.com has filed.
The President and his 110 ministers, particularly NPP MPs at Adenta and Madina have received wide flak over the numerous deaths recorded on the highway.
So far, a total of 195 persons, including children and students, have since the beginning of this year been killed on the multiple highway with a speed limit of 100 kilometer per hour, according to the residents. Statistics from the Police however put the figure at 24.
Lack of safety measures on the highway for pedestrians, nonfunctional street and traffic lights have been identified as the cause of most of the knockdowns on the highway constructed 11 years ago by the government.
These deaths triggered a campaign early this year for the six uncompleted footbridges as well as the street and traffic lights to be fixed but the government appeared adamant despite the cries of the residents.
Officials said they could fix the abandoned footbridges only in 2019, but the killing of the first year student of the West African Senior High School Thursday caused intense fury among residents who set car tyres ablaze to block a part of the highway at Adenta.
Breaking his silence on the saga, President Akufo-Addo said his government has “put together a comprehensive plan to address systematically all these infrastructural problems, which are legacies of a past decade of neglect.”
“I express my deep condolences to the family of the student who lost her life yesterday at Adenta, after being knocked down by a taxi, as she attempted crossing the road on her way from school. Our nation has suffered an unnecessary loss. The scenes that played out in its aftermath are regrettable, and should not happen again.” he added.
“The Ministry of Roads and Highways is ensuring that work begins on completion of these bridges in the course of the coming week, and has put together a comprehensive plan to address systematically all these infrastructural problems, which are legacies of a past decade of neglect.
“I would urge drivers and pedestrians to obey and respect the laws on our roads. All of us, Government and the citizenry, have a collective responsibility to safeguard and preserve life. My condolences, once again, to the family.”