Roads in Ghana often deteriorate to the point where they become a danger to drivers and pedestrians. The problem is made especially bad by poor maintenance of roads, which can cause vehicles going at maximum speed limit to go out of control.
Asaase 99.5 Accra has launched #SafeMotorway4All, a public interest campaign series that will spotlight the importance of maintaining critical infrastructure in Ghana. It will also highlight citizens’ power in bringing about change.
The campaign promises to bring critical attention to an issue that affects the lives of many Ghanaians, starting with the Accra-Tema Motorway.
Potholes, uneven road surfaces, broken concrete, exposed rebar, sinkholes and cracks in the road are some of the leading causes of vehicle collisions on the Accra-Tema Motorway and other major national highways.
Here are five Ghanaian celebrities who lost their lives through road accidents.
Kwame Owusu Ansah
Kwame Owusu Ansah was a Ghanaian radio broadcaster and teacher who later moved into acting.
He established himself in the Ghana film industry by working frequently with Nigerian actors and playing pivotal roles in Ghallywood movies.
Owusu Ansah died on 2 May 2008 from injuries sustained in a car crash on the Accra-Tema Motorway.
Before his death, the then 52-year-old actor had appeared in about 60 movies, including many Nigerian feature films.
Vybrant Faya
The dancehall artist Emmanuel Kojo Quayeson, better known by his stage name Vybrant Faya, died on Sunday 23 October 2016 after being involved in an accident on the Accra-Tema Motorway.
The musician behind the hit “Mampi” died tragically after he was knocked over by a motorbike.
Vybrant Faya was pronounced dead at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
Suzzy Williams
The Ghanaian television and film actor Suzzy Williams starred in films such as Bloody Mary, Calamity, The Comforter and Mother’s Heart.
Her career as an actor was launched through the African hit film Together Forever, based on a screenplay by the US-based Ghanaian producer and screenwriter Leila Djansi.
Suzzy Williams died in a car crash on 8 September 2005 at the age of 23.
Terry Bonchaka
In 2003 the musician Terry Bonchaka died in a car accident on his way home from a performance at the University of Ghana.
Terry Bonchaka was just 21 years old when he died. His death shocked Ghanaians and shook his many fans.
Ebony Reigns
Priscilla Opoku Agyemang, best known by her stage name Ebony Reigns, was a national treasure who was adored by Ghanaians and other fans from all over the world.
On the 8 February 2018, news broke of the young singer’s death, saddening her fans and the whole country. Ebony died when she was 20 years old.
The cause of death was a head-on collision on the Sunyani-Kumasi road that also killed two other people. It was a terrible accident and a needless loss of a lovely soul.
In the hearts of her fans, however, Ebony always reigns supreme.
About the #SafeMotorway4All campaign
The Accra-Tema Motorway is an essential link road and a major artery for Ghana’s economy, linking the largest port in the country with the capital city.
However, years of neglect and a lack of maintenance have left the N1 overall in a state of disrepair, leading to accidents and traffic congestion.
In line with #SeeSomethingSaySomething and the government’s efforts to urge all Ghanaians to be active “citizens, not spectators”, the #SafeMotorway4All campaign will identify key challenges to the smooth working of the N1 and push for action to address them.
Don’t forget to join the campaign. Share your experiences, appeals, photos, anecdotes and solutions on social media, using the hashtag #SafeMotorway4All.
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