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Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive has commissioned the construction of a footbridge at Abeka La-Paz intersection as part of road safety measures in Accra.

The project, which would be undertaken by the Ghana Highway Authority, is aimed at curbing the frequent pedestrian knock-downs by vehicles on the ‘N1’ road with the accompanying devastating fatalities and serious injuries.

It would be funded jointly by Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Safety Partnership for Healthy Cities and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (BIGRS-AMA) at the cost of 120,000 US dollars and it is expected to be completed within a period of a month.

Mr Sowah in an address expressed delight that the project which had been on the drawing board for years had finally kicked-off.

“This project had been long overdue but now it is a dream come true to end the perennial risk of pedestrian death from vehicle impact leaving many people destitute,” he said.

The AMA Chief Executive said the project was a component of partnership for healthy cities programme, an initiative embarked on by AMA which was also a Global Network of more than 50 cities that have committed themselves to help make their citizenry safer and healthier.

He said as part of efforts to realise the objectives of the Pedestrian Action Plans, the AMA decongested the city of hawkers and traders on the pavement and the Central Business District of Accra and its environs.

Mr Sowah acknowledged Mr Michael Bloomberg, a former New York City Mayor, for his role as the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Ambassador for non-communicable diseases.