By Musah Zainab (UniMAC-IJ)
Accra is considered as a highly populated city since it’s the capital of Ghana. People from other regions come there to hustle for their daily bread due to that, it’s also busy especially at market places like, Accra, Tudu, Makola, etc. People are always busy, running up and down by motorists, traders, truck pushers, etc.
Accra, the bustling capital city of Ghana, is known for its chaotic traffic scenes. However, a recent phenomenon has added to the chaos – faulty traffic lights. At least 20 major intersections in the city have malfunctioning traffic lights, causing confusion and danger for drivers.
“Accident happens here every day, it’s either a vehicle knocking pedestrians or motorcycles and car crashing due to the faulty traffic lights and there is no MTTD officer here to direct pedestrians and the vehicles,” a trader at Tudu market said.
A pedestrian at Makola market also said, “the malfunctioning traffic light at Makola market here is heart-breaking. Some of the traffic lights have spoilt for the past 2years now and authorities have also paid a dead hears to them.”
“We are pleading with them (authorities) to come and check; and fix some of traffic lights that use solar panels and batteries. This is the panels may go off any time and the batteries can also be weak without their notice,” Corporal Brimah from the MTTD Accra central said.
The introduction of traffic lights in Ghana was a response to the rapid growth in vehicle ownership and urbanization, which led to increased congestion and chaos on the roads. The government of the time recognized the need for a more efficient and organized system to manage traffic flow and reduce accidents. The first traffic light was a simple system with three colours – red, yellow, and green – and was operated manually by a traffic policeman.
Addressing the issue of faulty traffic lights requires a multi-faceted approach. Regular maintenance and prompt repairs are essential to ensure that these crucial traffic control devices are functioning properly at all times. Investment in newer technologies, such as smart traffic lights that are equipped with sensors and adaptive algorithms, could also help improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at key intersections.
The faulty traffic light menace in Accra is a ticking time bomb waiting to unleash more chaos and destruction on the city’s roads. It’s imperative that the relevant authorities take immediate action to address this issue.
With the support of the government and private sector, we can ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians in Accra. Let’s work together to fix the faulty traffic lights and restore order to our roads.
