People living in and around the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have refused to use a footbridge built over the Kumasi-Accra dual carriageway.
The disability-friendly bridge, funded through an Austrian Government support, was meant to end frequent pedestrian knock-downs at the KNUST-Junction and to also facilitate free vehicular flow.
The dual purpose for which the project was erected is, however, being defeated as many people continue to take the risk of crossing the highway without using the bridge - forcing drivers to stop for them and thereby clogging the road with bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Mr Atta Agyemang, a resident of Ayigya Zongo, attributed the people’s regusal to use the facility to the way the structure had been designed.
He complained to the Ghana News Agency that it was “too tall’ and that this made some of them “feel tired and dizzy any time they climb it”.
His position was shared by Ms Asibi Nsor, a vegetables seller who operates her business right under the bridge.
She claimed that like many others with problem with acrophobia, she could simply not imagine walking on the bridge.
Mr Bukari Azure, a driver, expressed worry about what was happening and called for the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) and the police to act firmly to get pedestrians to do the right thing.
“They must be forced to make use of the footbridge, for their own safety.
The Ashanti Regional Manager of the NRSC, Mr Samuel Obeng Asiamah, said steps had been taken to stop pedestrians from disregarding road traffic laws and regulations.
He spoke of the decision by the Ghana Highway Authority and the Department of Urban Roads to erect a long metal fence to force everybody to use the footbridge and added that the job had already been awarded on contract.
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