Kwame Nkrumah Interchange is a major transport hub with over 20 lorry terminals that distribute thousands of vehicles to connect in different directions and have activities throughout the day.
Given its importance and the thousands of people who use it on a daily basis, the three-level interchange was constructed to reduce congestion and increase free movement of vehicles and passengers.
The Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, known for its bustling urban life, has been plagued by illegal activities, leading to unprecedented levels of congestion, combined with criminal activities that undermine the good intentions for which the project was born.
context
Previously, the area had only a roundabout to distribute the thousands of vehicles that use the corridor to connect in different directions, including major towns and cities like Kumasi, Takoradi, Cape Coast, Tema, Aflao, Korle Bu, Teshi/Nungwa, etc. Odore, Accra.
It has commercial bus and/or taxi stands for almost all major suburbs of Accra and serves as a terminal for long-distance passengers. Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, therefore, has terminals for all transport confederations and networks traveling to the west coast such as STC, VIP, VVIP, OA, PROTOA, GPRTU and GUO and EFEX.
According to official statistics, it is estimated that around three million people visit the city every day, most of whom live in the outskirts.
Their rush in and out of the city on a daily basis creates chaos, especially during rush hours at places like Interchange (Circle), which is a transport hub for commuters.
traffic
The traffic is mainly caused by the increasing number of street vendors and people setting up temporary shops in the area to earn a living.
As no official control is enforced, vendors are blocking walkways and parts of roads, making it more difficult for vehicles to pass.
Further, the area has seen an influx of illegal parking activities of commercial and private vehicles, including ‘ocadas’ and trotros.
A Daily Graphic team that monitored the scenes in the area noted that the situation created a chaotic environment, with drivers weaving in and out of traffic ignoring road traffic regulations.
The police are helpless
The team again observed that the situation worsened in certain parts of the area when the police were not present.
In places where police officers are stationed, they are often overwhelmed and sometimes look on in despair as the situation worsens.
A few police officers, usually seen near the P&T, at both ends of the roads under the flyover and in front of the Orion cinema, were seen trying to persuade drivers to move their vehicles as soon as they stopped to pick a vehicle. Passengers. Picking up passengers in traffic is a major cause of congestion.
Again, the stretch from Neoplan Terminal to New Times Corporation office is where trotros normally take one of the three lanes of the road.
The situation worsens in the evening as drivers deliberately park their vehicles on the road shoulders after finishing work for the day.
It is common to see ‘drug addicts’ and what appear to be mentally ill individuals making parts of the flyover their abode.
frustration
The traffic jam has caused much frustration among commuters and pedestrians, with many people even voicing their complaints on social media.
A resident of Achimota who works in the area, Mathilda Hammond, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that the situation was mind-boggling, adding that the redesign of the roundabout into an interchange is expected to create some opportunity for businesses to thrive. area.
“I can’t believe how bad the traffic is at the circle. It’s like a nightmare. I hope the authorities do something about it soon,” he said.
Asked why people were still selling on the streets instead of a pedestrian mall built nearly a decade ago to decongest the roads and bring some sanity to the area, Ms Hammond said people were always rushing from one place to another and the goods were not encouraged. Merchants at the mall.
“It is easier for people to buy from the streets than entering the mall because they are always rushing from one place to another,” he pointed out.
Some people have shops in the mall but are operating from the streets to make up the numbers, said a trader.
crime
Crime is on the rise in the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange area due to increasing traffic.
Over the past few months, there have been numerous reports of theft, pickpocketing and other criminal activities.
As traffic in the area has led to an increase in the number of vehicles and pedestrians, it has become easier for criminals to mix up their crimes.
Criminals, Daily Graphic gathered, are taking advantage of the heavy traffic build-up to steal mobile devices and side bags.
indiscipline
Trotro driver, Charles Bentham, told the Daily Graphic that the chaotic situation was mainly due to indiscipline by drivers and pedestrians who ignored road traffic rules in the area.
He said that successive governments had announced scheme after scheme to tackle the problem of illegal activities and reduce lawlessness in the area but the schemes had not been successfully implemented.
“The previous administration established a new police task force to control traffic and enforce the law but it didn’t work,” Mr Bentham said.
In an interview to find out what the city authorities are doing to stop vehicular and business traffic in the area due to total indiscipline, the Chief Executive of the Municipality of Korle Clotte Municipal Assembly (KKMA), Samuel James ni Adje Tavia said. Kwame Nkrumah is employing a raft of measures to decongest roads and spaces around the interchange, which is plagued by illegal activities, to bring sanity to the area and boost economic activities.
Some of the measures already in place are to eliminate hawkers and beggars, relocate street vendors to newly constructed markets, strictly enforce parking by-laws in collaboration with the private sector and create a new scheme. Car parking spaces such as on-street parking within a bustling city centre.
He told Daily Graphic that the measures finally adopted will help reduce street congestion, promote sanitation and organize the commercially vibrant area in a way that brings serenity and comfort to the city dwellers.
The move will help control the growing number of vehicles and people competing for space in the vibrant area.
Attitude change is needed
Addressing the public’s concerns, the MCE noted that growing public indiscipline has contributed immensely to the current chaotic situation in the region.
“The main problem is behavioral change because some of these measures have been deployed in the past, but people ignore them and carry out their illegal activities, including selling on pavements, which is very dangerous,” he said.
Already, Mr. Tawiah said the Assembly has completed the market around Odawna where small stalls and ‘lockable stalls’ have been built in order to be in a central location for all street vendors.
“It is difficult to achieve because we like to buy in traffic instead of buying from the market so traders have also refused to move but with enforcement, we hope to change the situation,” he said.
Source: graphic.com.gh
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