The Mayor of Accra, Hon Elizabeth Naa Kwatsoe Sackey has handed over road safety equipment to the Ghana Police Service, to enhance the enforcement of traffic regulations and improve road safety in the city. 

The equipment, which was presented on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, with support from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) included 250 reflectors, 100 cones, and 100 road safety signages. 

In her remarks, the Mayor underscored the importance of collaboration between the police and residents in ensuring road safety.

According to her, both drivers and pedestrians needed to adhere to safety measures, assuring the police of support from the Assembly to safeguard the lives of pedestrians. 

She urged the police to take responsibility for the maintenance of the equipment to ensure its longevity and effectiveness in their operations.

 “We want to tell the police that we are always with you. Don’t feel lonely. We are part of those who can talk to the drivers and also to the pedestrians. Often, it’s not only the drivers who are the problem but the pedestrians as well,” she stated. 

Mayor Sackey recounted a basic safety practice, the “look left, look right and look left again” rule, she was taught as a child, which had since served as an important reflective tool when crossing the streets. 

The Initiative Coordinator for BIGRS, Osei Kufuor, explained that the collaboration with the Ghana Police and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) would in the long run address key risk factors on the roads, such as speeding, helmet use, seatbelt use, and drunk driving. 

He noted that despite their primary focus on technical advice, BIGRS had also provided the police with modern speed detection devices and other equipment over the years. He urged the police to continue enforcing speed limits as a critical measure to reduce road accidents and their associated costs. 

Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Accra Central Division, Folley Washington, expressed gratitude to the AMA and BIGRS for the road safety accessories and acknowledged the importance of continuing such support to help the police educate the public on road safety, including drivers and pedestrians. 

He disclosed that the police would factor pedestrian safety into their educational plans to preserve lives in Accra. 

“The police administration is very appreciative of today’s gesture. We hope this support will continue, as it helps us educate the public on the dos and don’ts of road safety. Our Mayor has spoken a lot about pedestrian safety, which will also be a focus in our educational efforts,” he said.

Present at the event were the Coordinating Director of the AMA, Douglas N.K Annoful, the Presiding Member of the Assembly Hon. Alfred Asiedu Adjei and the Finance Director of the Assembly, Abeiku Amissah among others.