Residents of Ntankorful and Kansaworodo in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis of the Western region are urging authorities to install traffic lights at their busy junctions, saying accidents have become a daily occurrence since the construction of the bypass road.
The call comes after series of road tragedies in the area, including a recent tanker-tricycle collision at Kansaworodo that sparked a fire and left two people in critical condition.
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has repeatedly warned that poor traffic management and dangerous intersections are fueling Ghana’s rising road deaths.
The residents say even though bollards have been installed, they have done little to improve safety on the road.
A curve that traps speed
At Ntankorful and Kansaworodo, a sharp bend forces drivers to accelerate rather than slow down, a design flaw residents say is a recipe for disaster.
“Traffic control is the only answer,” one resident said. “If there is a traffic light, drivers will slow down. Without it, more people will die.”
Children in danger
Parents fear for school children who must cross the road daily without zebra crossings or warning signs. “Every morning, we are scared when the kids go to school,” a resident said.
“A traffic light will make drivers stop and allow them to cross safely.”
An urgent plea
According to residents, it has been more than three years since the traffic pole was erected, yet authorities have made no attempt to install the lights.
In the meantime, scrap dealers have dismantled parts of the pole and sold them off. This, they argue, has left them exposed to constant risk.
They therefore appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority, the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to urgently install traffic lights and add clear pedestrian crossings.
“This is not just about vehicles — it is about lives,” the residents stressed.
The bigger picture
Road crashes remain one of Ghana’s biggest safety challenges. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 1,800 people died on the roads, according to NRSA data.
Analysts warn that unless traffic signals and control systems are restored and maintained, fatalities will continue to rise.
For residents of Ntankorful and Kansaworodo, the solution is clear and urgent; the installation of the traffic lights before more lives are lost.
Dysfunctional traffic lights spark safety concerns in Kumasi
By Portia Cudjoe
