Africa-Press – Ghana. The safety of passengers and drivers on Ghana’s roads, particularly in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions has become a grave matter. Armed robbers have been terrorizing travelers, taking advantage of poor road conditions, poor networking and lack of lighting
As Christmas approaches, a sense of unease settles over passengers traveling on the country’s roads, particularly in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo regions as some have fallen victims in the hands of the robbers before on same or another road.
Before Christmas, it’s time for stakeholders to act and ensure a secure and joyous holiday season for all travelers. The government must address the deplorable state of the roads and provide adequate security to restore confidence in the transportation system.
The Situation
Passengers and drivers are being attacked, killed, or injured on roads on the above-mentioned regions. The Robbers target areas with bad roads, where drivers are forced to slow down or stop at gun point, in broad daylight, with victims sharing horrific experiences.
Passengers on the Sunyani-Accra-Kumasi road have seen multiple attacks this year alone. Some are victims of abuse, rapes, defilement, torture, and live in trauma throughout their lifetime after losing their belongings.
These attacks have left many families grieving and survivors traumatized. The government and relevant authorities must prioritize the safety of travelers and take concrete steps to curb these attacks.
A disturbing incident of armed robbery was reported on the Techiman-Sunyani highway, leaving passengers shaken and demanding urgent action.
According to eyewitnesses, an attack occurred near Buoku in the Sunyani Municipal area.
Papa Kwasi, a pastor and one of the victims, recounted his terrifying experience in Sunyani, explaining that the driver of their vehicle spotted a queue of vehicles on the road, suspecting an accident or road trouble.
However, upon reaching the spot, suspected robbers emerged from the bushes, pointing guns at the passengers and ordering them to raise their hands.
The robbers made off with phones, tablets, money, and other valuables from the passengers. Pastor Kwasi revealed that one of the robbers demanded him to unlock his phone, and when he hesitated, the robber threatened to shoot him.
Fortunately, he managed to convince them to spare his life by verbally providing the password.
Pastor Kwasi and many who have been in this traumatic situation appealed to government to fix the road promptly, as the attacks were being facilitated by the poor state of the poor condition of the road which forces vehicles to slow down, making them easy targets for armed robbers.
The sentiment is echoed by residents and commuters who have long complained about the road’s condition and its role in encouraging crime.
Similar Incidents
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. There have been previous reports of armed robbery attacks in daylight on the Sunyani-Accra-Kumasi road, with robbers demanding phones and money at gunpoint.
Madam Rose Konama was stopped by masked armed robbers on the Ahafo road, who threatened to shoot if the driver moved.
She also shared their own terrifying encounters, highlighting the need for urgent action by urging the Ghana Police Service to intensify visibility and night patrols along the corridor of the roads to ensure safety and smooth travelling.
Government urged to act
The victims are appealing to the government to prioritize road infrastructure and lighting, as well as increase security presence on these roads.
They questioned the effectiveness of police posts in the area and called for beefed-up security to deter perpetrators particularly at night.
The police have confirmed some of these incidents and said they were working to apprehend the culprits.
In some cases, suspects have been arrested, and investigations have been ongoing. The police has therefore urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
A Call to Action
The situation demands attention and action from stakeholders, including the government, security agencies, and road authorities.
It’s time to put an end to these senseless attacks and ensure safe passage for all travelers. The government must address the deplorable state of the roads and provide adequate security to restore confidence in the transportation system.
The Human Impact:
These attacks have left many families grieving, and survivors traumatized. It’s imperative that stakeholders take immediate action to address the issue by fixing the roads and providing lighting to improve safety, increase security presence on roads to deter perpetrators, ensure police posts are equipped to support security efforts.
There is a need in improvement in road infrastructure and lighting, deploy more security personnel to high-risk areas, enhance police presence and response times, raise awareness about road safety and robbery prevention.
The government and relevant authorities must prioritize the safety of travelers and take concrete steps to curb these attacks.
Source: Ghana News Agency
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