The Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah has disclosed that the rate of road crashes and fatalities at the Lapaz intersection on the N1 highway in Accra has reduced drastically due to the Road Safety Enhancement works carried out in the area.

According to him, records from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service indicates that road crashes at the Lapaz intersection has reduced from 16 percent to 5 percent.

Mr Sowah disclosed this when he addressed the media after the commissioning of the Road Safety Enhancement Works at the Lapaz intersection on Friday.

The enhancement works which was carried out with support from the Bloomberg Philanthropies' Partnership for Health Cities (PHC) forms part of efforts by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to enhance pedestrian safety in the city as well as reduce road crashes and fatalities at the intersection to its barest minimum.

The works include; increasing of pedestrian signal timing from 18 to 42 seconds, lowering kerbs at pedestrian crossings, narrowing of lane widths, widening of median refuge, replacement of damaged signals and crash barriers as well as remarking of pedestrian crossings and other pavement markings.

“We have widened the medians to accommodate more pedestrians before crossing the entire 14 lane, traffic signal for pedestrians which used to be 18 seconds has now been increased to 42 seconds. The kerbs have also been lowered to enable people who use wheel chairs and other physically challenged persons cross this intersection with ease,” he indicated.

Mayor Sowah revealed that due to the high pedestrian volumes recorded at the intersection, it was prudent to protect pedestrians from road crashes and fatalities hence the enhancement works.

He recalled that the AMA with support from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road safety (BIGRS) had recently presented some reflective cones, lighting batons, reflective vests, directional and instructive signage and gloves to the Accra Central MTTD to complement the department’s efforts in bringing sanity on the road in order to reduce road crashes and fatalities in the city.

The Mayor expressed his appreciation to Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) as well as others who assisted to ensure a successful completion of works and urged pedestrians, drivers and other road users to obey road traffic regulations to prevent any eventuality.

The Okaikoi North Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Boye Laryea, commended the AMA-BIGRS and PHC for the enhancement works and was hopeful that it would help reduce road crashes and fatalities at the intersection.