Parliament has started pushing for a national conversation on how to deal with the increasing road accidents in the country, which have been claiming several lives.
This comes on the back of a statement by the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Member of Parliament (MP), Frank Annoh-Dompreh, after five people died in a road accident at Nsawam Mobil junction in the Eastern Region on Tuesday.
The MP, who is unhappy with the tragic situation, charged the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to devise mechanisms to address the re-occurrence of road accidents.
“An assessment of the situation at the Nsawam Total filling station intersection on the Nsawam-Kumasi stretch, and the intersection of the Mobil Junction in the Nsawam township, must be made for the provision of traffic lights.”
“Subsequently, stricter measures to ensure safety should be employed to disallow trailer trucks from plying these roads,” he suggested.
His statement generated debate among members of the House who blamed the National Road Safety Authority for the numerous road accidents.
Some of the lawmakers urged the NRSA to establish offices in all districts to enhance their public education and sensitisation on road safety.
“It would interest you to note that I have been a victim of accident on this stretch; in fact, I have had two accidents on that road and I would say that it has also been as a result of indiscipline on the part of drivers on that stretch.
“Every location where there is a speed hump, a market develops there. A market is right behind where the accident happened. I think if we choose to permit markets by roadside, we should build with embankments,” they said.