The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kwaku East in the Eastern Region has raised concerns about the increasing number of accidents on the Nkawkaw stretch of the Accra-Kumasi highway. Yaw Owusu Addo has called for immediate measures to be taken to block unauthorized access points to the main road to prevent further accidents.
This plea comes after a tragic incident on Thursday, February 15, which led to the death of three male pupils and a female teacher from the Ampeah Memorial School in Nkawkaw. The fatal accident involved a Nissan Patrol vehicle, believed to be the official vehicle of Prince Karikari, the District Chief Executive for Atwima Kwanwoma, which crashed into the Hyundai mini bus with registration GE 2291-10.
Eyewitnesses report that the driver of the bus attempted an unapproved U-turn while driving on the shoulders of the road from the Accra-Kumasi direction at a spot near Nanchia.
Mr. Addo has expressed his frustration with the situation, stating that despite his efforts to address the issue and curb accidents on the stretch, he has been unsuccessful in persuading the highway authority to effectively tackle the problem. He emphasized the need for broader support to deal with the situation, cautioning that more accidents are inevitable if prompt action is not taken.
“Since I became the MCE, we have also been raising that issue, but it is not an issue we can tackle single-handedly at the municipal level. We need bigger support to deal with the situation there, but I know there is a bigger disaster waiting to happen if we do not take action,” he said.
It is clear that urgent action needs to be taken to address the safety concerns on the Nkawkaw stretch of the Accra-Kumasi highway to prevent further loss of lives. The community and relevant authorities need to come together to find a lasting solution to this problem.
