One hundred and sixty pedestrian deaths caused by vehicle knock downs have so far been recorded on the Sofoline-Abuakwa highway in the Ashanti region from January 2018 to July 2019.

Fifty-five were recorded from January to December 2018, while the remaining 65 was recorded in 2019, from January to July.

This was disclosed by the Assembly member for the Asuoyeboah Electoral Area, Hon. Martin Owusu, in an interview with Otec News’ reporter, Jacob Agyenim Boateng, on Thursday, August 15, 2019, during ‘Asanteman Akwan’ on “Operation Fix Our Roads #OFOR”.

The assemblyman attributed the deaths to the lack of road signs on the uncompleted highway that links the Western North and Ahafo regions.

Residents of Asuoyeboah, Tanoso, Kwadaso and Sofoline have blamed the Minister of Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwasi Amoako Atta, for his failure to prioritize and allocate funds for the completion of the 11 Kilometer Komfo Anokye-Abuakwa stretch.

“If the minister had prioritized this major road and released funds for its completion with the road signs, the unnecessary deaths, if not stopped, would have been reduced.

A resident, Madam Abena Florence, recounting how she lost her 80-year-old mother, Agartha Manu, in a fatal knock down while crossing the Sofoline-Abuakwa highway, said: “the death was preventable if road signs and traffic lights were in operation on the highway” she cried out.

They, therefore, appealed to the government to release funds for the complete the project to avoid the prevented deaths.

The Chairman for the GPRTU branch at Sofoline, Mr Albert Asante, told Otec News that they have petitioned the Road Minister, the Ashanti Regional Minister and the Ashanti Regional Police Command to avert the numerous accidents on the highway but to no avail.