The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has launched a targeted enforcement operation to clear bulk haulage vehicles parked along the shoulders of the Accra-Kumasi highway, particularly on the Nkawkaw stretch.
The operation, carried out in collaboration with the Kwahu West Municipal Assembly, comes amid rising concerns over illegal roadside parking and the encroachment of roadways by traders—factors the NRSA says are contributing to deadly traffic accidents.
Despite being the most affordable mode of transport in Ghana, road travel continues to register the highest number of accidents. Authorities attribute much of this to widespread disregard for basic road safety regulations.
A key concern is the habitual use of road shoulders by bulk haulage trucks as makeshift rest stops, posing severe risks to unsuspecting motorists and pedestrians.
On Tuesday, a task force led by Acting Director General of the NRSA, Abraham Amaliba, took to the roads to enforce traffic laws and issue warnings to errant drivers.
At Apedwa Junction, the dangers of roadside parking became evident when a military officer’s vehicle, left unattended with his wife and young child inside, began rolling into a gutter.
Quick intervention by bystanders prevented a potential tragedy. Reacting to the incident, Mr. Amaliba said, “What we just saw is a clear case of driver indiscipline. That wasn’t where he should have parked, and he left his wife and child in the car. This is an army officer. The vehicle started moving when he abandoned it. If not for bystanders, we might have witnessed something far worse.”
The situation is even more alarming at Nkawkaw, where truck drivers routinely engage in double parking on both sides of the road, making passage for oncoming vehicles hazardous. The problem is compounded by the presence of makeshift structures and vendors occupying the median, turning the highway into a congested and dangerous corridor.
Kwahu West Municipal Chief Executive, Taminu Alidu, identified the area as a hotspot for illegal activity, including drug peddling. He announced that the assembly will soon undertake a major decongestion and demolition exercise.
“We are going to demolish all the unauthorized structures in the median. It is posing a threat to the municipality. In fact, this is where drug peddlers have now turned into their hub. So, we pray and hope that soon, the assembly is going to embark on a decongestion exercise along the road,” he said.
The NRSA says the ongoing operation is part of a broader campaign to reduce road crashes and instill discipline among road users. While the enforcement effort is a welcomed intervention, concerns remain about its long-term sustainability and the consistent application of traffic laws beyond the current operation.
