Traffic And Street Lights: Why are they always off? || The Probe with Emefa Apawu

Name: Traffic And Street Lights: Why are they always off? || The Probe with Emefa Apawu
Uploaded: 2023-08-20T21:43:36+00:00
Duration: 58 min 25 s
Channel: The Multimedia group

00:00 Good evening and welcome to tonight's edition of the probe. I'll take you back to your nursery days when they say

00:05 When you see the traffic light there is something you should know red means stop yellow means get ready green means go

00:10 I'm sure you remember that but really these days there are no traffic lights for you to even start

00:15 Stopping and going amongst others. It appears

00:18 It is not a privilege to drive on the road with a functioning traffic light or a street light for that matter

00:24 So now we probe the real reasons behind non-functioning traffic lights in this country

00:29 While highlighting the saving importance of these lights

00:32 I must say here that we focused on this same topic in January this year and the Department of Urban Roads the Ghana Highway

00:39 Authority Ministry of Roads and Highways and the various city authorities as well as the people

00:45 Taxed to keep the traffic lights on have refused to give us any answers then and guess what?

00:51 They have since refused also to provide answers today as we speak and it amazes me how people who are taxed to keep us safe

00:59 Remain unaccountable to us with impunity even though my sweat and toil as well as yours

01:05 I used to pay them. Why have you become?

01:08 Non-functional just like the traffic and street lights. Do you know how many lives are lost as a result of this trend?

01:15 You need to tell us why the road user has to endure this and we are waiting patiently your explanation for this ineptitude

01:22 well

01:23 Let's take a look at the figures in terms of the numbers of lives that have been lost

01:27 And the people that have been involved in road crashes and this is the National Road Safety Authority's data

01:32 That thankfully has been provided to us. Why are the street lights off road traffic crash and casualty for July 2023?

01:40 let's focus on this and

01:42 I'm giving you that of last year and this year the same period July 2023 and July

01:50 2022 for cases reported for July 2022

01:54 This is what it looks like for the red all the red you see is for 2023

01:58 The yellow you see is for 2022 and this is the figures this how it looks like for July cases reported

02:05 1222

02:07 thousand and

02:09 1233 that's what it is for July 2023 then for 2022 is

02:15 1282 that's an increase there then the vehicles involved for July

02:20 2099 that's what it is for July 2023 and then for last year. It is

02:27 1991 and the persons killed take a look at it this year last month July

02:35 We have 186 deaths people that have been killed as a result of road crashes

02:41 And then the same period last year is 143 then persons injured

02:46 1328 for this year last year

02:51 1221 pedestrian knockdowns last year 213

02:56 That's for this year and then last year is 224. That's what it looks like for July 2022 as against 2023

03:06 Then percentage change in road traffic crashes situation July the same period cases reported

03:13 4.31%

03:14 Vehicles involved 5.42% then the persons killed take a look at the jump

03:20 30.07% for the same period

03:24 Increase in the number of persons that have been killed over the same period persons injured

03:31 376% and then the knockdowns thankfully we have a negative

03:34 Case in that 4.91%

03:37 So this is according to the Ministry of Children and this this is Ministry of Transport data that we have now

03:43 Let's go on to the next slide and we look at road traffic crash and casualty January to July 2023

03:50 We have cases reported. This is also for from January to July last year and then for this year

03:56 So the green you see is for 2022 the yellow you see is for 2023. So cases reported

04:02 8137 that is for this year and then for last year it was

04:08 8869 vehicles involved

04:11 13,862 for this year the last year was

04:15 15,239 then persons killed for this year

04:22 1772 and then thousand four hundred and forty three and then also goes on persons injured

04:27 9135 and then

04:31 9228 for the pedestrian knockdowns this year. We have thousand four hundred and eighteen and then last year we have

04:38 1580 for the same period of January to July now

04:42 Let's give you a regional breakdown of the figures as we have it for the period January to July

04:48 2023 and then 2022

04:51 Great Accra is leading the pack with

04:54 3,355 a shanty follows closely

04:57 1,918 and these are the two regions will be focusing on

05:01 Obviously because of the figures that we are seeing my colleagues on the ground to paint the picture to us on what we are seeing

05:07 the lowest region 25

05:09 Thankfully, so this is what we have in terms of the period and the regions

05:14 that's the distribution of crashes for the various regions here we go on to the next slide and

05:19 What we have so we are told by the Ministry of Transport that they have a goal to reduce the levels of road traffic

05:25 fatalities and deaths and injuries by at least

05:29 50% from 2021 to 2030. Where are we with this target?

05:35 Are we on track when we have our road?

05:38 traffic lights and street lights

05:40 All not function almost all of them not functioning in past that we've been to at least one out of 43 of them at the last

05:47 Count are not functioning. But before we get into it though looking at these staggering figures

05:52 Let me quickly bring in the head of the National Road Safety Authority

05:56 Engineer David Osafwa-Dunting just to comment quickly on this before we get talking really and get into action on the traffic and street

06:05 License we are getting these numbers. Thank you so much for joining us. We'll take your initial comment on this figures

06:11 I'm really really worried. I don't know about you engineers have one thing you've been doing road traffic

06:17 Drive safe campaign amongst others

06:19 What really accounted for this particular figure that we've seen for July this year you would say

06:26 Good evening to you and thank you for this opportunity. I

06:34 Believe you can hear me. I can hear you loud and clear

06:37 Thank you. And good evening to all my colleagues. So I can see my good friend Cecil and

06:45 Dr. Akka also from BRRI a good evening to you all

06:48 Indeed, I think you have clearly

06:52 Presented a few guests as they look like

06:57 in the first seven months of this year

07:01 the

07:03 little motivation is that

07:05 comparing this year's figures to last year

07:11 We've seen some reductions in some of the indicators

07:14 Marginal as some of them may look though, but it is very refreshing to know that something positive

07:22 is being done by way of interventions to have come and

07:28 Reflecting positively also on the figures indeed the performance of every country's road safety

07:35 Management is to see figures going down

07:38 the crashes the injuries and the deaths and those are the indicators that

07:42 suggest that

07:44 some intervention is

07:46 Is receiving or reflecting positively on the roads? So that's quite quite motivating but indeed

07:54 We wish that we have a far lower figures so we can see some more reductions by now

08:01 But the level of intervention that we are rolling out

08:06 The National Road Safety Authority itself as a lead agency by way of the drive safe campaign that you your media

08:14 Champion and then the stay alive campaign that we also champion together

08:18 I've gone

08:21 deeper into the

08:23 structure of road safety management in this country to the extent that

08:27 campaign education publicity advocacy

08:31 It's something that we can all

08:35 Say that we have missed some relevant achievement very significant now. You don't get figures coming down

08:41 For the sake of it. It is always

08:44 Contingent on a certain

08:48 Practical work you are doing on the ground and that is how our figures come down because we have factors that are always fighting against us

08:55 The vehicle population is growing every day

08:59 Human population is growing every day in discipline on our roads and as you are aware

09:05 Some more fashioning of certain road facilities. These are all critical factors that

09:11 give

09:13 impetus for

09:15 It risk people to take risk and for that matter result in the deaths

09:19 but if you have a very strong campaign structure, which I

09:24 really commend the media for supporting the national recipe to that extent that we were able to roll out this campaign and

09:33 All we were trying to do was to minimize indiscipline, especially on the part of reduces

09:38 drivers pedestrians

09:41 Passengers motorcyclists and and all that so that they can themselves own recipe

09:47 They can protect them get themselves when they are using the road and I think that I must commend Ghanaians for

09:55 Accepting the campaign which had a slogan

10:00 You know job was so much model because we were trying to let Ghanaians recognize the fact that crashes

10:07 Happen not because of the work of a devil. It is because we are in discipline

10:12 Yeah, if you go on to sit behind a steering wheel

10:14 we

10:17 Behave by way of over speeding or speeding beyond the prescribed limits by drinking and driving

10:23 By driving when we are tired

10:26 Using mobile phones which for that matter distracts our focus and attention and a lot of factors

10:33 But beyond the human element, we were also able to drive along our stakeholders the engineering fraternity

10:41 That is the Ghana Highway Authority

10:43 Department Department of a bar was inferior roads the translator British

10:47 We also able to drive along or the DVLA the police

10:52 Especially and here I must meant the inspector general of police for the huge support

10:59 He provided

11:00 Roasted him money burn in the country in the past number of years that he has been in

11:05 in office and here I can mention specifically the

11:10 Programs that the IDP and the Ghana Police Service entity the road out in support of the still-alive campaign

11:17 For example, there was the party

11:20 Police action against writer in discipline this particular program. You will see police populated on the road space

11:28 Everywhere. Okay. Well, this is supposed to be your initial comments on the data that we've seen and we'll be delving deeper into it

11:36 Maybe quickly and let me just bringing dr. Carson's you've already introduced them for me and then Cecil Gabra as well

11:42 Well, and for me the main concern is the July figures at least and the number of deaths that were recorded

11:49 Between the same period last year in this year 30 point something percent increase over 30 percent increase, which is really of concern

11:56 I'll be going live and to my colleagues in Kumasi and Accra as well

12:00 But not without taking your initial comments on this dr.

12:02 Akka looking at the figures at least there's been some significant improvement by the number of deaths one too many is not

12:08 Yes, the number of death is still very high and what I would say is that looking at the characteristics of food traffic crashes

12:19 We always say that it's random

12:21 And so you need to observe that down one trend for at least three years

12:26 Before we can see that there have been a conscious efforts in reducing crashes. So I will say hey, we shouldn't celebrate yet

12:34 We should do what we do, right? And I'm sure the route traffic fatalities will come. Okay

12:40 How about you Cecil and before we go live on the ground then we can talk about traffic and street lights

12:47 You have to unmute Cecil

12:49 All right, I hope you can hear me now loud and clear, thank you, okay, right so

12:58 It is really a fact that road accidents are not increasing

13:03 But when the figures are coming down because people are really becoming

13:07 aware of the situation of course if you look at

13:12 the general public for instance driving and

13:17 Nobody wants to evolve

13:19 Himself or his own in any accidents because of the cost involved right in Ghana when you have an accident

13:25 Don't tell you forget about insurance

13:28 You and I will have to communicate to go and repair it. So everybody is really careful. There's no money in the system

13:35 I mean, let us say I agree that because of all these factors

13:40 driving has

13:42 Become quite better than previous years and many people are also not driving

13:48 As we can see

13:51 however, we've become our brother's keeper and I will encourage Ghanaians to go ahead with

13:57 This so that we support the whole issue on reducing road crashes

14:03 Which is not a comfortable situation

14:07 So we just need to continue with our campaign to reduce the crashes on our roads and

14:12 We all will leave happily look I've traveled to other countries and Ghana is doing very well

14:19 I can't mention the countries for them to target me. Anyway, Ghana is doing very well

14:24 We just like I said, we are brothers keeper. Let's encourage ourselves and

14:31 Kudos to your station. Honestly speaking. I'm proud of you for making road safety a priority for Ghanaians to

14:38 Know that yes, it's just really a killer and which you reduce our speed. We shouldn't be talking on the mobile phone

14:46 Well, we see all this and I know it is coming down and it will get to a point

14:51 because of the introduction of the new police

14:55 System traffic tech and we believe accidents will come down. We'll talk about it more as well

15:01 But let me take you live now to our she Banyard here in Accra and my colleague someone in Bura all week

15:08 Has been taking a look at non-functioning traffic lights and also this evening. We are focusing on streetlights as well. So well in Bura

15:15 Let's talk about the situation you were talking about but you've been to Banyard this week

15:20 I think there's about a third time you've been there this week. You focus on traffic lights

15:23 What's the streetlight situation in that area as well?

15:26 Well, somewhat in Bura, I'm sure there's a bit of delay there

15:41 But if you can hear me you can take it away and give us a situation as you've seen it in the areas

15:46 You visited this evening

15:48 You

15:50 The Banyard intersection here in Accra it is on the N1 what we call the National Road 1

16:01 It stretches all the way from the Joli area

16:03 passes through La Paz

16:06 Pashiman Malam and then linking over to the

16:09 Mankesim or the Cape Coast stretch of road

16:12 so it forms part of one of the critical roles in the capital here, but

16:18 The situation here is quite dark right behind me. You can see that the

16:22 Traffic lights have been dead. I'm told for the past one year

16:27 This traffic lights you are seeing in the screens has not been working

16:31 It has taken

16:34 accused concerns from

16:36 Residents the situation isn't improving at all. Just last week. There was a demonstration by

16:42 Residents here because they said the the knockdowns were becoming uncountable and they needed to draw the attention of

16:49 authorities by publicly

16:51 Venting their anger, but the situation isn't challenging at all

16:54 So we have officers from the MTTD who are here to ensure that they regulate traffic

17:01 But we have days that they do not come at all

17:04 So you can imagine such days that they are not available what happens on this stretch. So

17:10 They ensure that the traffic is controlled. They also ensure that people or pedestrians cross

17:16 Cautiously, so that is this is just one of the situations here in Accra

17:21 I've been to the liberation road around airport, which is supposed to be the entry and exit point of Ghana and

17:28 Some of the traffic lights are not working the same as a UPSC stretch

17:32 The 37 military hospital right in front of that hospital is not also exempted a whole lot of areas

17:39 The knee mass stretch is also a big challenge for

17:43 commuters here in Accra and they are quite worried about

17:46 the situation so I just talked to one of the

17:50 I mean aggrieved residents here at the Banyard intersection. He's called Rashid

17:55 He has some revelation to share with us here. Rashid. Thank you very much for joining us on the pro bon joy news

18:01 Tell us how critical or how there is a situation here without traffic light without street lights

18:08 How are you coping as residents? Look the the the situation on

18:13 I mean in Banyard as a speeded by a traffic light is it's so critical is so nasty

18:19 Let me use the word nasty to extend that. I mean every single day we

18:24 See accidents happening

18:27 We I mean ask them pedestrians and car being smashed and I mean a whole lot of you know

18:33 You know what when we talk about road accidents

18:35 I mean if we are to count the number of fatalities of road accident fatality

18:40 We should be counting Banyard as one of the main contributing factors. How long has this been the situation?

18:45 I mean ever since I've been here for the past four years

18:48 Okay, but ever since I came here I understand it's like six years straight

18:53 Six years straight

18:57 I mean I let the assembly member all those who matter on this issue

19:01 They all know they have mentioned they've gone to the AMA. I mean the the the assembly to complain directly

19:08 The assembly came to do some assessments here and all that promising that they'll come back and come and get

19:13 Things done and all that. I mean joy FM even because of big

19:18 Big feet from here reporting on the issue

19:21 Thinking they'll come and do something about it GTV came in and all that

19:26 You know all that just bought on one thing and that is just a power pack. There's a power pack right there

19:34 that

19:35 There is a power pack box right there that controls this traffic light and ever since that power pack has been off

19:42 I've been and since then and cost just 20 that overhead

19:47 20,000 20,000 galaxy's to get a straight. Yes. That's what we hate and just because of that that has never happened before

19:55 The power pack has been stolen

19:57 Has been taken off

19:59 Where they just about a year to a go a year exactly a year ago. I was prompted by one of the

20:06 The people here telling me that the controller that controls the traffic lights

20:13 Also off and it has been stolen

20:16 if you go right now you go to the feet you see that the

20:20 Barbed wire or the the cage has been cut through and that control has been taken off

20:25 So you can imagine the amount of chaos that that really happens there every single day. We see

20:32 Motor kids, I mean the position will do kids

20:35 Ministers and all that using this stretch every single day with siren black you sirens all the time

20:41 And yes, so this cannot be fixed

20:42 So what what what are you trying to tell is I got my yard is not part of Ghana or by a doesn't matter

20:48 Oh, I mean we can't just we can't just understand anything. Thank you very much

20:54 So Russia just represents the many voices here at my yard at Abulakumar

20:59 I have another person here who is also concerned about it. How often do you use this road? What do you have to say about it?

21:05 I've been living in this place for 27 good years and I can tell you that it's very bad the situation here

21:13 If you people can spend some few minutes here, you realize that this police people they close exactly at 8

21:20 And that's the a stand over there by now. I think because you people are here

21:24 that's why they are still here as soon as you leave the only and

21:27 When they leave this other guys that are in the traffic as you can see the civilians coming around

21:32 Yes, you see every time every night there is an accident here

21:36 And I don't know how long these people are waiting to fix this thing. This is not a major issue

21:40 This is something that can be fixed within a twinkle of an eye

21:43 This is solar something that needs to work and you see the system of Ghana

21:48 I do not know

21:49 But I'm much worried because people are getting heads people are having

21:53 Accidents and stuff and it's really hurts me as a citizen in Ghana that we pay tax and yet still our tax are not being

22:00 Used to fix just common traffic lights if not even the roads the traffic light for more than five years. It is not working here

22:09 Let me just come in here because of the time factor so this is one of the civilians he was talking about

22:14 So once the police are over they also take over to control the traffic

22:19 So the situation is actually die here

22:22 I had wanted to cross over to the other side, but they did that there's no traffic flow a reason

22:27 I'm unable to send you to the scene that Rashid our earlier

22:31 Residents was telling us about the alleged stolen cables on that stretch

22:36 So what the police live here the civilians take over?

22:40 Okay, you can imagine how the situation will be if it rains and no one is at the middle here

22:45 Okay, your guests may be good as mine, but this is not the only case in a crowd

22:48 We have several paths intersections like I mentioned earlier the UPS a area Lima

22:54 We also have that of the 37 military hospital. No from the area and the immigration rule around

23:01 The airport area so that is a situation

23:04 one of the critical rules in a crowd that I can report that the situation really needs urgent attention before we I

23:11 mean

23:12 authorities a national road safety authority and then the entity and other

23:17 Institution that I involved okay, Mr. Target on road safety in the country. That's my colleague some old in were there

23:25 He's visited a number of areas and the station that Barney yard giving us them that the true situation

23:30 You can see how dark these roads are as well. And the traffic lights are also not working in that area

23:36 Let me take you to Kumasi a Macomb and my colleague Nana

23:40 Watch it down quiet. Oh is on standby is a situation any different where you've been Nana

23:46 Okay, Nana, I'll try again. I'm sure you can hear me this time and that was the situation where you are

23:51 Okay, Nana, I'll try again. I'm sure you can hear me this time and that was the situation where you are

24:07 No difference at where we have been throughout the day

24:11 We started straight from a Macomb where we are currently, but then when we got here we had to move into a so-called

24:17 That's a closer town here. We went to a so-called where they have some more functional traffic lights just close to

24:24 Yes

24:27 So just close to the

24:32 Kumasi sports stadium where we were not long ago. There is a more functional traffic lights

24:39 We've been to of O'Reilly come closer to the O'Reilly municipality where there's also a more functional traffic lights coupled with dysfunctional

24:46 Street lights as well where we are. Let me give you a clear view of where we are MFA

24:50 So we are currently at a Macomb and this is a hotspot in the Kumasi

24:55 Metropolis where we have some more functional traffic lights at my back over here

25:00 You can see that the traffic lights here is not working

25:03 So drivers who use this particular stretch would have to be moving as and when those here

25:10 Move because their traffic light is working the traffic lights here is the only traffic light the only surviving traffic lights in a Macomb

25:17 And so if the drivers here move that is when the drivers also here move if they stop that is when the drivers also

25:24 Here the drivers here also stop so you can see that the drivers here are moving and clearly the drivers here are also

25:30 Moving so when they stop when those here stop those here would also have to stop

25:37 But we've been to a for you chrome. We've been to a sequoia. We've been to a crow from we've been to a doom

25:43 Near the Kumasi and a high court and then the bank where there are there are several

25:48 More functional traffic lights coupled with dysfunctional traffic lights

25:52 But I have some pedestrians here with me who have been using the street for quite some time

25:57 And as I was engaging with them earlier, they told me that they witnessed an accident here just yesterday

26:03 Me more a quadra by joining you alive on the probe. What is the situation?

26:07 Yes, our Hanum say an upper area and you're not to say oh, I'm a kumar name say you mean

26:14 I'm a daisy and some are you from the a book or a a for contact a

26:18 Children's Park here that we a traffic IIWO problem

26:23 like traffic II

26:26 Die a Juma crano wait me so green now. Oh, mom. Oh feel left sides are so green right side

26:32 That's so green to be an insanity. Also great the accident today and power the be acident

26:37 Now the M1 car crash. Let's say I Kumasi Center over how cost a doom as quite more

26:44 Which mean for Hanum say call a hot joe baby and a high busy?

26:49 Then they want to traffic nesaya came is wah wah came in for paying for came usd or moon amani's here. I am afar

26:56 I call my Juma the traffic. Yes. I am once a mom. I'm a she need to be acident in the problem day

27:03 You feel you have power and the crowd Moses streetlight and that's why we do have in tear cut children's park. Oh, you know, I say why?

27:10 Dean to be a crown for the Hanum do Mujuma in Tiwa for quantity many a summary man or two a champion

27:18 They be a dream home. Nice a credit. Come on my committee police for a cab or a

27:22 Moodle, I walk a crown on the South Korea in to be a fishy problem. What for?

27:27 Can't help about a million

27:28 So I'm ever he is saying is quite surprised as to why a busy road like this one the Kumasi Accra

27:34 Highway would have some more functional traffic lights a busy road in which

27:38 Authority city authorities use quite some time and he's saying that's their consistent accidents here at a Macomb

27:46 Where we are currently and this is the I'm a comb children's park just here

27:51 He's saying that it has turned into a hideout for hooligans. Maybe I told what's not for quite some time

27:56 And many many kind of a casino now which him the NKAC were Hanum AC and then I wore and run

28:03 And I'm traffic in a new juman in Teno

28:05 VIP or low do free Kumasi our business. I crack

28:11 Into 10 minutes crowd free VIP or more on a banana into 10 minutes by traffic in a new juman to know be a

28:18 force on one echo a

28:20 Momo TSC, you know and I'll cross over you know, it has any pain in the womb?

28:26 Yes, I'm Katoa. It's a hot traffic here. Can I do you want to say came before?

28:30 Cranham had the VR. Oh, come on. See came me also in Kadibia Saudi way. There you can sink or more so I know

28:35 Me know you know, okay say on set traffic. We are so red. We saw a

28:40 woman with me also green beard. Yes, so green left green right green Oh, honey, call me up a sonic when they are sitting to see to me

28:48 What the cronty are? Oh, what do you mean? Yeah traffic me in your some real to me. Yeah

28:52 Joy, Joy news monkey. My yes, Remo Kumasi. I for quantity a if you see problem, pa

28:59 All right, so he is explaining the situation here and at a Macomb

29:03 He say that the drivers who use the stretch

29:06 Move as to when the drivers here move the stop as to when those here also stop so you can see that the drivers over

29:14 Here have stopped because the drivers here on my right have also stopped those on my on my left are moving

29:20 So they are also moving in the one just here the traffic lights just closer to me

29:25 It's also not working MF. As you can see clearly it is also not working. So

29:31 Let's get to some of these pedestrians who are here and find out from them

29:36 The situation how the situation is when they move through this particular stretch

29:42 I have this gentleman here with me and my patrol

29:46 Nehemiah to say a what I had no see who use a stretch and how does it feel with these dysfunctional traffic lights coupled with these?

29:54 dysfunctional streets lights that we have over here at a Macomb for how long have you been using this stretch and how the

30:01 Does it feel saying a movie in this area in particular?

30:05 For we living here in a Macomb we are living a death trap

30:10 Concerning this stretch if you look at the dysfunction of this traffic light, it's causing a lot of accident over here just recently

30:16 I think yesterday. Yeah, there was a huge accident over here

30:19 That was VIP bus and a certain motorbike due to this dysfunction of this traffic light and is very disheartening an embarrassment

30:26 So we are calling the authorities to come into our aid

30:29 You must see I am a model. We are very worried about this situation

30:33 Look at the children's park just open it here

30:36 And the dark place is called a headquarters of our office because of the abandonment of the street light

30:42 We don't have a day and it's very disheartening brother is very certainly see here

30:46 The traffic light is not working here has stopped but under no master consent

30:50 It should be like those coming from here and here must move together. But look at the situation the traffic lights here

30:57 The incoming cars here have stopped and the coming cars here are moving. It's not functioning well, and it's very embarrassment

31:04 So we are pleading on the authorities Kumasi is not just a simple city. It's a big city

31:11 So why do the authorities do such things to us?

31:14 You people always think about your power, but we the people give you the power

31:19 No, you are putting our life into threat. How can you give it a power? So Kumasi a Macomb

31:24 Highway from Massey to Accra highway that we are turn on and you can testify how embarrassment we are in now

31:31 Okay

31:32 So here's quite a disaster

31:33 Disheartened with the situation here at a Macomb is saying that the I'm a comb

31:38 Children's park has now turned into a hard-out for hooligans just as the first person we spoke to said you can see that the drivers

31:45 Here find it quite unfortunate using the stretch because it is difficult using this particular stretch

31:51 Okay, so that's my colleague and I'm not watching down quite yet on their reporting from the Ashanti region

31:58 I'm a comb Kumasi. I see a lot of people lined up that you'll be interacting with

32:02 I'm sure we'll get more of them and subsequently we'll get a recording and that's just a tip of the iceberg

32:07 They raise concerns about safety to life's and then also the security

32:12 Concerns also as a result of these non-functional

32:15 Street lights and then also for traffic lights as well. And that's just the tip of the iceberg the stories

32:22 Abound you many of you have been sharing your stories also with me on social media platforms and I'll be going through some of them

32:28 But engineers are far daunting. So this is something we've been talking about for some time

32:33 I'm at a loss as to how the Ministry of Transport

32:36 the urban roads Ghana Highway authorities

32:40 We are yet to get any answers. Maybe you interact with them on a different level

32:44 Do you have any answers as to why these traffic lights and street lights are not working? Have they told you?

32:49 Thank you very much and let me say thank you to your

32:53 Officers who are also on the field currently

32:57 Assessing the situation and giving us live feedback for us to make the relevant comments on

33:04 I must also thank you and the media my I'm adding my voice to my good friends. So for your station

33:14 Keeping this particular discussion in the media space for Ghanaians to know the reality on the ground indeed

33:22 We as an institution we are as worried as you are

33:26 Because we have a mandate to protect human life and property on the road now failure of a traffic light

33:34 to function

33:36 Then creates a problem of conflict

33:40 Now conflicts can result among vehicles vehicle to vehicle or vehicle to pedestrians or vehicle to

33:47 Motorcycle and it's been a very big problem in recent times. We've recorded recording a couple of

33:55 Crashes at intersections. It's all because these traffic lights are not functioning

34:00 Now the road safety management chain is said that there are responsibilities assigned to all stakeholders

34:09 Why is we do the education we do the coordination the advocacy and and and all that

34:14 The Department of Urban Roads Ghana Highway Authority Department of Federal Roads are the institutions mandated by law

34:22 Budgets are released to them

34:25 The way they do is that they should fix all this traffic light at all times because traffic light must function

34:31 Intersection is said that it is a space that a lot of road users or a lot of vehicles or even human beings share

34:39 Now the sharing means that we have a portion the space according to timing

34:45 For each approach to have some access at one particular time or the other so failure of which there is eminent

34:53 Clearly that a crash could okay now in the number of years

34:59 I must say the past number of years now we've been addressing trying to address this problem, but we are getting nowhere

35:05 And I think it's worrying

35:08 This is not the first time we are discussing this. It's been in the media space for a very long time now

35:13 We always approach our colleagues from the other side engineers to look for answers

35:19 Because we have to bring it to the attention

35:21 There was a couple of times that we did an observation with the figure

35:26 I think you even in your preliminary discussion you raised it

35:29 About 90 something more than 90 percent of this traffic light at a particular time will not be functioning

35:36 So you find motorists

35:40 Trying to struggle at intersections

35:42 Creating problems amongst all of us and and and it becomes so worrying to us now

35:49 The reasons we get from our colleagues, which I'm sure you are also aware because some of them have even mentioned

35:57 at this night that

35:59 you get the

36:01 control boards or the systems that operates this light to function being vandalized by individuals

36:09 Now sometimes I find it very difficult

36:11 To understand why a Ghanian a typical Ghanian a human being like you and I would want to approach a public facility

36:19 government facility

36:21 Which we have used the taxpayers money

36:24 To produce to install and then in the night when you and I are asleep

36:29 they go and vandalize they go and pull all the cables cut them and go and sell and

36:35 They destroy the entire system. Now. These systems are also very expensive

36:40 So sometimes I agree with the Department of Urban Roads that if you go and destroy all these

36:45 Then government will have to look for another money to fix them

36:49 Now why we fix we are unable to protect overnight and so they still have the opportunity to go and vandalize again

36:56 now beyond that

36:58 There are other factors where some contractors who?

37:01 Also manage or maintain these devices may come out a certain point in time to say they have not been paid some money

37:09 And so they cannot go doing some more work when the previous one they paid have not they did have not been paid

37:17 I think these are reasons that we keep getting every now and then okay, but it is not something we'll say as an excuse

37:25 These are facilities that are required for safety

37:28 It is important that if it's about money, we look for money to fix them

37:33 If it's about protecting the facilities, we have to find a way of protecting it

37:38 Currently there are surveillance cameras all around we can fix one of the surveillance cameras are started to find those who are behind this

37:46 Yes to be monitoring them. So I think that we should scale up our

37:51 mandates our activities our responsibilities as

37:54 Institutions and and try to put in place mechanisms that can make the traffic lights work. They must work

38:01 I think that is where we stand. Well, let me bring in a doctor account this and also at least

38:07 We we are getting the picture on the ground when it comes to why these lights will traffic and street lights are off

38:16 I'm sure you've also been finding some answers as to why we are where we are such that just at the background here

38:23 It's a disco traffic lights and we are lucky to have it work at least one week straight

38:29 What really is our situation?

38:32 Cecil talks about going to other countries. We may be doing well, but really

38:35 Why is it a privilege to have my street lights working?

38:38 Okay, thank you very much a metaphor

38:43 so traffic lights are supposed to

38:45 reduce conflicts

38:48 By assigning the right of ways to vehicles

38:51 So that certain types of collisions like hitting a vehicle at right angle for instance will be eliminated

38:58 It's unfortunate that our traffic lights are not functioning

39:02 By talking to some of our colleagues, you know, the current

39:07 System is that the Department of Urban Roads outsource?

39:11 the

39:13 Maintenance of the traffic light to to a company and this company is supposed to maintain the traffic lights

39:21 And charge the Department of Urban Roads

39:23 When they've they've they've they've repaired any maintenance work on it

39:30 What is happening is that?

39:33 now

39:35 some of the contractors as engineer I don't say mentioned are not being paid and so they don't go in and

39:42 If I'm working for you, I put in my money and then I don't get paid

39:47 Then it becomes very difficult for me to also go in again

39:51 The issue on the traffic light is that the road agencies that now have authority the Department of Urban Roads

39:58 They construct the routes with it with the street lights and then leave it to the district assemblies to manage

40:06 Right. Sometimes the energy ministry comes in and give the district assembly supplies of

40:13 Street lights for them to install right but some of the assemblies have issues

40:19 We've realized that even some of them don't have the cranes

40:23 We need to climb the traffic lights to remove the bulbs and all those to install them. Some of them don't have those

40:31 Equipments to do the installation, right? So there are issues at the assembly level

40:39 We did some work we spoke to the assemblies and some of them were saying

40:43 that if that issue if that problem can be taken off and

40:49 Then the road agencies can take that as part of their

40:53 routine maintenance

40:56 Activities then that will help some of the assemblies are challenged

40:59 Sometimes some people from the community will have to come together contribute money to buy street light before they are installed

41:07 monies are not being paid to contractors and

41:10 There are issues with the management of the traffic lights and then the street light system in the country

41:18 Okay. Well, so so at least we've been you've been talking endlessly about this situation and

41:25 We are equally as worried about why these street lights and traffic lights are not working

41:32 But they are fixed at some point and then later on they go off really are we being taken seriously as citizens?

41:39 We've been speaking about this for some time now. What do you say? What do you know?

41:44 Well, thank you. Thank you. I'm if I think my colleagues have

41:48 said most of

41:51 The issue but I'm going to tell you the truth and the way forward very soon, right?

41:57 So just like we all know the traffic

41:59 Signals or traffic lights have been designed to ensure an orderly flow of traffic when it is not there. Definitely

42:08 there will be a lot more of accidents my

42:11 Colleagues have said it not naturally where there are no traffic lights. That's where a lot of us then swill. Okay look

42:17 For me I

42:20 Base everything on research and this is what we found out. Okay my team from my office

42:27 We spend about three months to find out why traffic lights are not working. Why?

42:32 There are a lot of hit and run

42:35 cases and that damages the equipment which is the control board and sometimes the traffic lights itself to

42:41 test of equipment

42:44 cables chamber covers

42:46 You will not believe it being about being you know, taking away

42:51 Vandalism is also what we found out damage of underground cables by on

42:57 by unauthorized

43:00 excavations especially by the construction firms, right

43:04 For instance cantor beds, right?

43:06 Canto men's has got a very big issue. Why traffic lights are not working if you speak to the contractor

43:12 That's the traffic light contractor, which I can't mention the company's name

43:17 He'll tell you straight away that it's an underground problem. The Chinese contractors should have contacted

43:25 the

43:28 Contractors in charge of his traffic lights. Okay now they have done the road

43:33 Asphalted it and it's going to be very difficult to dig

43:37 Because we don't want to see any

43:39 Asphalted road that has been dug out burning of refuse close to the equipment is also one major issue

43:47 Now there's also damage of the ducts and chambers by other utilities in order to share the facility without

43:54 Authorization powerful operations is also one major issue

44:00 Now this inadequate funding from road fund due to capping of funds by Ministry of Finance

44:07 Then the major issues that contractors are not being paid. They are not being paid if look I think I was live on joy

44:15 Some two weeks ago. I was working sometimes we go out

44:19 I was working with a team from Ghana police law and now say this and because I've already said that the

44:25 traffic lights

44:27 Okay, and that is a you know, there's construction area and construction going on in that area

44:33 Well, you need to slow down and so on look I was standing there right in front of you know

44:39 Everybody that gentleman riding the motorbike came over and then switched on those traffic lights

44:44 Amoeba they were working. So I went close to him and I said, oh so

44:50 Traffic lights are working and then he turned it off again

44:54 When he turned it over I see why have you turned it off my boss said make a come check see if it a worker

45:00 I know

45:01 So I asked him again and said they haven't paid us so we can switch it on and he put in the padlock and went away

45:09 Why are we suffering? Why should should should we suffer? There are a lot of accidents occurring in part

45:15 And if I'm really really upset whoever is concerned must be dealt with and I'm sure that's coming from the Ministry of Transportation

45:22 We need to knock hard. We need to correct this because people are dying

45:26 Look at your your team at the traffic lights reporting live to us now

45:32 What are they saying a lot of us people are dying and because they are not ministers, they are not important people in society

45:39 Everything goes quiet. We're going to sit down for all of us to crash a traffic lights before we realize that hey

45:47 Look here. We need to make some noise from now and I like what joy

45:52 TV joy FM is doing. Let's continue to talk about it

45:56 The issue is that they must pay this contractors as soon as possible for the lights to work without lights

46:03 We cannot drive in this country. It's really really important and when you talk about it

46:08 I mean if it's even every minute to elect the government that this is a situation that is it and it is the truth

46:14 It is money. Now. The way forward is that we need a central control system

46:20 Let's talk about this control box control box issue because people are stealing them. I don't know what you are going to do with it

46:27 well, I mean the

46:28 Chips and so on the control box means that and there is money in it, right?

46:34 It's a we must stop it and they have a central control system

46:38 Look, look, I am I say it always that I mean with all my mouth and talking talking talking

46:45 Government of Netherlands invited me some years back and then when I went it was so beautiful

46:50 Look, they are sitting behind a control room and they will decide that in the morning. They should increase

46:55 the speed of such and you know vehicles maybe about

46:59 40 40 vehicles must pass within a period of two minutes. They will change the traffic

47:06 For the speed the speed limits and the traffic timing and also beautifully done as to then I say Wow

47:14 Can't we do it?

47:16 What are we waiting for you and put this control box there tomorrow?

47:19 Somebody's going to vandalize steal it and now we're going to replace it and then from this

47:25 Program and the someone is 20,000 20,000. That's a lot of money, but it is not more than

47:32 using that money to buy for by four by four where the ministers and other important people will sit in and pass

47:39 Through that same traffic light. I mean, let's be fair enough and talk about the truth that hiding and telling

47:45 Us all those things to say. Oh, yeah, we'll repair

47:49 It's all about money and let's move away from this and have a better system

47:53 So the Ghanians will enjoy driving road crashes will be at a minimum and I'm always you know

47:59 Talking to my friend David that look we'll get to a point in time because the National Road Safety Authority is working

48:06 We have a dynamic leader. We have a dynamic team. I'm also working with them

48:10 So we'll have the figure reducing from the thousands to the hundreds very soon. Okay. Well, and doctor

48:17 Don't take and engineers also for 20 I should say well, we know that elections are on the corner. We've had

48:23 concerns about

48:26 Contractors not being paid and people also stealing this control board and the need for a central control system amongst others

48:33 Well, if there's an election today, we know that most of these streetlights will be fixed

48:37 but let's talk about the responsibility of you and I as citizens in terms of making sure that

48:43 These lights are kept on because at least we've seen that or heard this evening that we all have a responsibility as well

48:50 But let's talk about it. Really. What should be my responsibility?

48:53 Your responsibility in keeping these traffic and streetlights on and I'll be taking some comments also

49:01 Shortly, and that's all of you have sent in

49:03 Yes, I must say that

49:06 We should all accept the fact that we have a problem

49:11 But it needs to be fixed. It is not one person's responsibility

49:15 Before we are instructions that

49:18 They lead and so we must advocate for and encourage them to do to do it

49:24 Where the problems are known I think we've discussed a couple of them

49:28 So once you know the problems you should be able to now find the solutions

49:32 As I speak to you Minister of Transport and then a Minister for Roads and Highways are discussing the problem very critically

49:40 The last time we discussed it

49:43 We had all the assurance from the Minister for Roads and Highways

49:47 That money's are going to be released soon so that it can clear any

49:52 Bill that is associated with the fixing or maintenance and so on and so we are motivated by that and which I know

49:59 the Minister for Roads and Highways he will

50:02 Do exactly what he has said. So what you're saying is

50:06 For most of us we feel that those in authority are not concerned about it at least

50:12 They have not spoken to us about what exactly it is that they are doing for us to know that they are indeed concerned

50:17 About us in terms of our safety on these roads. What you're saying is they are taking it seriously?

50:22 Yes, so this that's why I'm telling you that a lot of discussion sometimes you wouldn't find us

50:29 Discussing some of these matters, but we do a lot of discussions around this we

50:35 Follow up we make sure that at least one or two areas critical areas are fixed

50:41 Unfortunately, you find it, you know reoccurring

50:45 But behind closed doors, we are doing a lot of discussions. In fact, the National Road Safety Authority will move out there

50:52 move across

50:54 a

50:55 commercial

50:56 Tamarudy and all

50:58ophobia and so on to find out the status of

51:01 This traffic lights. We know the problems and we share the problems with the authorities

51:06 I am assuring you that the Minister for Transport Minister for Roads and Highways worried themselves

51:11 They are also discussing it and that is how come I am saying that very soon the Minister for Roads and Highways

51:17 Has assured us that some money should be released from government to fix some of some of them and that is very refreshing

51:24 But beyond that we all have responsibilities

51:26 for example

51:27 As I said somebody goes in there a driver you hit the post or you hit the light and then you run away. I

51:35 Think the police must now be looking out for such people so that we can search them

51:40 Beyond that if you go to Department of Urban Roads currently this called central control systems are being fixed

51:47 In fact, they already been done

51:49 Some of them are being tested now

51:51 I believe they're moving into technology just as the police are now even out there talking about traffic tech

51:58 you can see that the agencies are not sitting down closing our

52:01 Hands and perhaps in despair. We are making some efforts now. We are moving into technology

52:10 Technology in a manner that we can synchronize

52:12 All these traffic light systems and move each of the control boards into a central room

52:18 I just say has said this is what we are doing, but you and I also have responsibilities

52:24 We should not just watch people go around and destroy them

52:30 When we see certain things we should bring them up

52:33 For example, we can see somebody staying around these facilities as if they are repairing

52:39 Before you know, they're damaging it

52:41 They are stealing when you see certain bring to the attention of the police so that the police can apprehend them

52:47 but again

52:49 As citizens I must commend those of us who sometimes take it upon ourselves to help

52:55 I mean your your your friends on the field

52:57 Yes, who is a few young men who come across sometimes to help us at intersections, but the police have also not been sitting down

53:05 Any time traffic lights are not working the National Road Safety Authority

53:08 We collaborate with the police to immediately move the police to stand and direct traffic and I think this is happening across

53:16 but

53:18 When traffic lights are not working, we all see with our naked eyes. What we need to do is that we should exercise patience

53:25 Don't run through because there will be no control

53:30 If you run through you may hit another vehicle that is also running through or possibly a pedestrian or a motorcyclist

53:38 I think much as we see these things

53:40 We should also be able to behave in a manner that we shouldn't get ourselves into any risk situation

53:46 To kill ourselves or damage our property. So we all have some responsibilities

53:50 I believe that as we speak to rate and advocating for it in the coming days

53:55 We will see a big change from the government side and possibly also from the National Road Safety Authority side and the police

54:01 And we want to call on everybody to support this whole agenda to get our traffic lights fixed and and and then working or functioning

54:09 Okay, whilst Erama gets ready and my messages is all the messages that you've sent in

54:15 I'll give the final word to you. Dr. Akar on this our

54:19 Responsibility what we all ought to do to ensure that these street lights and traffic lights are on at least we've been hearing from

54:25 David or Safa Donte on this as well. I've even forgotten to sit down

54:29 But well, we'll get some of the questions shortly and the messages that you've sent in. Dr. Akar, you're fire away

54:36 Thank you very much, Emma

54:39 So as it has come out the government needs to make payments

54:44 Contractors to make sure that all the problems that needs to be faced

54:48 Faced and I will also say that the current system where the route

54:55 Agencies build the rules the street lights and then leave it for the district assemblies to manage

55:02 The agency should be concerned right you build a route and you should ensure that it's running efficiently

55:09 And so the route agency should also be concerned with the efficiency or the maintenance of the street light

55:17 Again, the National Road Safety Authority will measure

55:20 Them according to the number of crashes we have in our road. So they should also be concerned now

55:27 They are an authority so they should hold the road agencies responsible

55:32 for making sure that the street lights the

55:36 Traffic lights are functioning and then lastly to everybody all of us are citizens

55:42 We should play our role well

55:44 if you run into a traffic light system, the law says that you are supposed to be surcharged and so the

55:52 agencies the police should get in the

55:55 Department of Urban Roads for instance for the assessment to be done so that these agencies these individuals can be surcharged

56:01 All of us should play our role well, and when we do this, I'm sure the road traffic fatalities on our roads will calm down

56:08 Okay

56:09 Let's take some messages and the traffic lights at 37 intersection are not working or pair be our junction traffic lights are also not working

56:16 Well, almost traffic all traffic lights in various junctions in greater

56:19 Accra are not functioning and then we have this one also all traffic lights at

56:23 Adenta SDA haven't been functioning at all since last Sunday till now what's going on yet?

56:29 These same people equally use that road are they waiting for casualties before they fix it?

56:33 Also, there's one from Bono East Capital

56:35 He says the whole Bono East Capital has no functioning street lights yet. We pay levy for that

56:40 Well, he talks about this government and then Mario a UPS a junction always off

56:46 he says and Baba said who says the taxman is just shopping money instead of using it for maintenance and

56:52 This one from AC says your own so this good traffic light has been dysfunctional for many weeks

56:57 I think he worked last weekend

56:59 I'll check again if it's still working and I will see junction traffic light has no work for almost two years

57:04 I lost a dear friend as a result

57:06 That's from Angela and the flyover at Ghana's Dubai is dark and dangerous and the road in front of the new military cemetery is dark

57:13 and terrifying most of your messages that you've sent in this evening why our traffic and

57:19 Street lights are not working many. Thanks to our guests to this evening. Dr. William a copy. I we also have the accent director

57:27 General of the National Road Safety Authority

57:29 Engineer David Safwa daunting. We also had Cecil Gabra CEO of top tech consult and they are getting ready for

57:36 You know a training program that will all be attending shortly. You'll be seeing it soon

57:41 Cecil Gabra, thank you so much gentlemen for joining me tonight here on the probe

57:46 There's more when you log on to my journal 9.com and whatever you do

57:50 Make sure you stay safe on the road drive safe is our campaign here. I join you

57:55 I am MFA a power on behalf of the entire team

57:58 We say many thanks for your company prime take us up next here on join you channel with move town a biller for our radio

58:04 Audience is a walk with Jesus with pastor at work. Please do stay. Have a good evening. Thank you

58:09 You

58:11 You

58:13 You

58:15 You

58:17 You

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58:22 (upbeat music)

Traffic And Street Lights: Why are they always off? || The Probe with Emefa Apawu

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