Asenso-Boakye encourages usage of footbridges

The New Patriotic Party (NPP)  Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has called for urgent measures to enhance pedestrian footbridge usage to reduce road accidents, citing studies that indicate that over 40 per cent of road accidents in Ghana involve pedestrian fatalities. 

Speaking in Parliament in response to a statement by the NPP MP for Weija-Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Mr Asenso-Boakye stressed the need for improved footbridge design, public education and stricter enforcement of safety regulations to curb avoidable deaths.

The Bantama MP, who is a former Minister of Roads and Highways and a professional planner, highlighted the former government’s commitment to pedestrian safety, stressing that the Akufo-Addo administration made footbridges an integral part of recent trunk road designs in high-volume traffic areas.

Key projects such as the Accra-Tema Motorway expansion, Kasoa-Winneba Road, Kokoben-Anhwiankwanta Road, and Adenta-Dodowa Road all included dedicated pedestrian footbridges to separate human movement from fast-moving vehicles, he stated.

Indeed, despite these investments, many pedestrians continue to ignore footbridges, often crossing roads at unsafe locations, resulting in avoidable accidents and fatalities. 

Proposals

To address this challenge, Mr Asenso-Boakye proposed several key interventions.

He proposed design optimisation and accessibility improvements, mentioning that footbridges must be designed with user convenience in mind to ensure they were not only strategically located but also equipped with ramps for the elderly and persons with disability.

He said covered walkways, modern aesthetics and proper landscaping could also be considered to encourage pedestrian use.

The Bantama MP further advocated lighting and security measures to address the issue, saying many pedestrians avoided footbridges due to poor lighting and security concerns, especially at night.

The government must prioritise the installation of streetlights, security cameras and regular police patrols around footbridges to enhance safety and deter criminal activities, he said.

Mr Asenso-Boakye further advocated public education and sensitisation to encourage the use of footbridges.

He said large-scale education campaigns should be intensified through schools, community engagements and mass media to create awareness of the dangers of jaywalking and the benefits of using footbridges.

He said strict enforcement of safety regulations was also critical, and called on the Ghana Police Service and the National Road Safety Authority to strictly enforce pedestrian safety laws, including issuing fines for jaywalking in high-risk areas.

He said the use of technology such as surveillance cameras and automated penalties should also be explored to ensure compliance.

Priority

Mr Asenso-Boakye urged the sector minister to prioritise the completion of the Tetegu footbridge in the Weija-Gbawe Constituency, emphasising that delays in construction often contributed to pedestrian non-compliance.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility, and while the government is making significant investments, it is crucial for all Ghanaians to adopt a culture of safety.

We must work together — government, road safety authorities and the public — to ensure these footbridges serve their intended purpose and save lives,” he stated.