MOTORISTS IN TWIN-CITY COMPLAIN (PAGE 23, JULY 26, 2010)

Motorist in the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis are complaining about overgrown weeds on the shoulders of some principal streets in the metropolis.
Some flowers that have been planted for the purpose of beautification are overgrown and creating a lot of inconveniences for motorists.
At the Takoradi Polytechnic Traffic Light, where there is a triangular section of the road linking the Polytechnic road to the main Sekondi/Takoradi road, flowers and weeds have grown so high that drivers from Sekondi heading towards Takoradi have to exercise caution or they risk crashing into other vehicles joining the road.
To add to the mess, the traffic light is not working and therefore, during the rush hours, personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Ghana Police Service have to take positions on the roads to direct traffic.
From Fijai Junction to the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, the weeds on that road are so high that it is difficult to see vehicles on the other side of the dual carriageway.
What is more dangerous is that, this road has many curves. If a vehicle develops a fault on a curve, without proper signals, an oncoming vehicle would definitely crash into it.
That aside, haulage trucks have resumed the use of the Fijai end of the roads as a parking area, taking half of this road.
A speeding driver from Effia-NKwanta who cannot see ahead due to the height of grass and flowers in the median definitely risks crashing into the parked trucks.
What is saving the situation at the moment is a pothole at the end of the curve which drivers slow down to avoid thereby seeing the danger ahead.
At the moment, it is the Department of Parks and Gardens and the assembly which have the responsibility for the beautification of the twin-city but have shown complete indifference about the dangers posed to motorists or they do not have approved funding for the work.
Aside the high grass, the city has many trees which add to its beauty but unfortunately, many of these trees have dry branches.
During the rainy season or whenever strong winds blow in the twin-city, these branches fall either block the roads or smash the windscreens of vehicles.
Many private and commercial drivers are of the view that the assembly has lost control over the city. These problems are basic and proactive measures should have been taken but nothing has been done by the metropolitan assembly to bring the situation under control.
When contacted, it was interesting to note that the city authorities were not aware of the department that was supposed to address the situation; Urban Roads, Parks and Gardens or the Ghana Highways Authority.