The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) in the Western Region has inaugurated an eleven (11) member task force to help manage and ensure that traffic congestion following the yuletide in the Metropolis was minimized to its barest form.
In his inaugural address, Mr Abdul Mumin Issah, Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for STMA said announced that the job of the task force was to go after drivers who stop and load at unapproved points in the Metropolis thereby contributing to unnecessary and avoidable traffic jams during rush hours.
According to him, the Assembly has also observed that the intransigence of some drivers was adding to the congestion.
He recounted that there were two major construction works currently ongoing in the Metropolis, impeding both human and vehicular movements, especially to and from the Central Business District (CBD).
The Mayor said with the two major constructions, the City has become congested, especially when the road leading to West Tanokrom and Effiakuma have been diverted.
He pointed out that it has therefore become prudent and so imperative to look at how the discomfort would be reduced to the barest minimum to reduce travelling hours and bring some relief on travellers.
Mr Issah divulged that currently, some parts of the Metropolis have been experiencing some undue traffic which was clearly a result of some drivers stopping and loading at unlawful places.
“Consider the stretch around the Asempa Hotel which has been taken over and the old Accra Station as well as the All Needs Supermarket areas. All these places have been turned into stations. The task force will crash these drivers who stop and load at any undesignated station”, he stressed.
He, however, warned the members of the task force and said their sole mandate was to ensure that there was sanity on the roads and not to be seen as an avenue to enrich themselves or settle personal scores.
“I also know that some members of society will be arrested but then will want to use their party affiliations to seek clemency. If you call me, I will not do anything because the law must work”, he retorted.
Joseph Simons Cudjoe, Chairman of the task force was confident that the team will work to the best of their ability without fear or favour to ensure that the roads were sanitized for safe and stress-free Christmas.
Source: GNA
