Religious indiscipline on the part of members of some churches in the twin-city has become a source of worry to the public and the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of the Ghana Police Service.
Members of these churches who own vehicles park them on both sides of the streets during church services thereby making it difficult for other motorists to drive freely.
Other churches with parking areas would halt traffic until all their members join the main road, therefore, creating long traffic on the major roads in the metropolis.
Interestingly, those without their own means of transport, after church, stand anywhere to stop vehicles even when bus stops are just a walking distance from the church premises.
On the Sekondi/Takoradi high street, which is one of the busy roads, easy to access the regional hospital at Effia Nkwanta, ambulance and fire services in case of emergency is actually difficult on Sundays and on other days when these churches hold crusades.
At the Central Gospel Church, behind the Ajumakoma Printing Press in Takoradi, members of the church normally use the front of the building to park their cars, which is perfect.
There is actually no problem when they are entering their parking area, but confusion starts after church service.
The church’s self-appointed traffic wardens halt traffic at will for their members to join the main road, resulting in traffic jams from the entrance of their church premises to the Paa Grant Roundabout.
And then those travelling from Sekondi and New Site have to also join the long traffic jam from the entrance of the church premises to the Takoradi Polytechnic traffic light and beyond.
The interesting part of the situation is that instead of employing the services of the police or having its wardens trained on how to control traffic, the church rather gives more attention to their members.
Interestingly, while the traffic wardens ignore the right of other road users and allow their members to join the main road at will, those without vehicles also stand on the walkways to stop taxis.
That aside, these church members go to the extent of negotiating the fares before boarding the taxi, a situation that does not augur well for safety on the road.
From the Central Gospel, there is another church next to Ahenfie Hotel, where car owners of this church actually park on the street, reducing the size of the road from the Barclays traffic light and the business centre.
Members of the Catholic Church in the same area also refuse to go to the bus-stops nearby but instead stand by the gate to stop taxis to their destinations.
From there, there is also a church opposite the Central Police Station; they park on both sides of the road, therefore reducing the size of the street for vehicles and other road users to use thus creating confusion among motorists and pedestrians.
When contacted, the Takoradi Police District Commander, DSP Dela Dzansi, said the police had noticed that with much concern.
He said the activities of these churches make the roads very unsafe and therefore the police would write to them and also discuss possible solutions to the problem.
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