Distorted Road Signs In Ghana

A road sign is a sign for the control of traffic or the information for drivers and pedestrians, normally in the form of signboards among others, thus communicating visually to road users.

This has the penchant to brief all road users including cyclists and pedestrians for them to anticipate what is ahead of them.

Road related deaths are so common in Ghana and its being said that the most common causes of road traffic accidents in Ghana amongst, gross indiscipline on our roads, overloading, fatigued driving, drunk driving, overspeeding, corruption of both driver and police officials on the road, broken down vehicles on roads, driving on worn /second-hand tires and non-existing road markings.

According to the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) (2011), there were 7 accidents per day across the country. In December 2020 alone 2,373 died from road accidents and crashes were 14,960 with more than 17,000 people recording injuries.
To hit the nail on the head, Ghanaians have nearly forgotten the number one tragedy which reduces the human capital in the country, yet still, attention has not been drawn to such (unforeseen) blockages of life.

During a ride through the towns of Tamale, the capital of the Northern region of Ghana, it was noticed that the NRSC and the Police have left the inhabitants to dig their graves and set death traps in the context of rejected attention to road signs and lack of it when it is needed the most. Almost all the road signs in urban areas were in deplorable conditions, some were broken, others were showing the wrong signals etc. Most posters normally of politicians, movies and other advertisements have made the road signs their posting landmark where they post campaign pictures on these road signs.
There is no fear, care and maintenance of government property so people use these signboards or better still road signs to invite others to their funerals serving as funeral posters stand, and many organizations have also used this opportunity of lawlessness in the country to advertise their goods on such an erected platforms which is very unacceptable and therefore putting all road users at a higher risk they can’t afford to endure.

This also puts the vulnerable and school children at risk when they are crossing at faded road markings of the zebra crossing, rumble strips etc.

Human lives are always at the highest risk of all since road users would only see the interrupted information being given rather than road signs. In advanced countries like the United States, United Arab Emirates, France and the UK, it’s impossible to see such negative advancements that the Ghanaian front has seen as normal.
Some efforts in reducing road accidents in Ghana have been made known by the government such that some cautions have been taken to enlighten and educate people about the importance of our road signs, but it is not enough, the perpetrators of these illegalities should be brought to book and this would serve as a deterrent to others who want to follow suit to endanger the lives of the Ghanaian ahead of them and save lives when time is enough.
By: Sedrick Robert Zu