Danger on Accra-Aburi Road as thieves steal metal railings

Source: Daily Graphic Online   -  There is imminent danger on the Accra-Aburi Road as certain unscrupulous persons have allegedly removed some of the metal railings along the road.

These railings have been fastened to concrete pillars, which are also known as New Jersey Barriers, to prevent motorists who skid off the road from falling into the steep valley.

The contractor had built crush barriers and the New Jersey Barriers to protect both motorists and pedestrians from falling into the valley in case of an accident.

But both items of protection have disappeared at some sections, as careless motorists have destroyed the crush barriers, while other people have allegedly stolen the metal railings that have been fastened to the New Jersey Barriers.

GHA’s reaction

Officials of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) have described the situation as unfortunate.

The Greater Accra Regional Director of the GHA, Mr Collins Donkor, stated, "If you remove road safety features that have been installed to protect motorists, then you compromise the safety of all road users".

The GHA, he said, was aware of the missing metals on the New Jersey Barriers and had written letters to the police to patrol that area to protect national assets, including the street lights.

"What we have to do next is to get National Security to install secret cameras to detect who the perpetrators are," he stated.

Surveillance

In an interview, the Akuapem South District Chief Executive, Mr Winston Afari Dzan, told the Daily Graphic that the assembly had mounted surveillance on the stretch in an effort to arrest the unscrupulous persons committing the act.

He reiterated that the suspected thieves were putting the lives of motorists on the corridor at risk, as they had also been stealing cables and lamps from the street lights mounted along the meandering road.

"You realise that some street lights are not working when you use this road at night. It is because thieves have stolen the cables and lamps. But we are working to bring the perpetrators to book.

“As it is now, motorists and pedestrians just have to be extra cautious when approaching the affected sections, at least until the safety features are replaced,” he said.