I have been quite impressed by the performance of Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, the Mayor of the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA), since his appointment by His Excellency President John Mills. It is obvious that the successes of the AMA cannot be divorced from the progress this country has chalked up within the last nineteen months under the leadership of His Excellency the President.
The truce between the AMA and outraged traders in the Kimbu area for the relocation of the latter to the Pedestrian shopping Mall is worth noting owing to the disagreements that greeted the exercise.
A few months on, it appears the concerns of these traders have been met albeit the serious sanitation challenges in and around the Pedestrian Shopping Mall at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. A lot more has to be done to improve on the situation in the market so patrons can ply their trade under a better hygienic condition.
Another phenomenon that should engage the AMA, besides the search for new burial grounds for departed souls, is the daily reduction of parking space in the capital; a major contributor to the traffic situation on many streets and lanes.
The cosmopolitan nature of the capital Accra, has witnessed the construction of many high rising buildings for residential and commercial purposes without accompanying provisions for parking spaces in and around these property.
The real estate industry as of today has become more sophisticated. Apartment buildings for residential and commercial purposes are being encouraged as a first step to land optimization and space maximization.
This suggests that the population density per metre square on a plot of land has seen some increase and is still expected to rise. Hotels, flats, churches, mosques, banks, office complexes by individuals, entertainment centres, among others are increasing in the capital while the space upon which these property are erected have grown smaller and smaller exponentially.
It is sad that many developers put structures on every available space as high as ten to twelve storeys while very little consideration is made for parking by the staff, residents, patrons and visitors to these establishments. The chaos emanating from this negligence, lack of supervision and corruption is that many streets, lanes and roads are being used as parking spaces owing to the lack of space in and around these buildings.
Bus stops are being used by taxi drivers as parking lots and taxi ranks. The chaotic situation of hawking on our streets has added to the dangers on these busy roads and the daily hustle and bustle of huge traffic jams on our “shrinking” roads.
Along the Kwame Nkrumah Circle-Achimota Highway, bicycle vendors, garages, vulganizers, and motorbike vendors have virtually taken over the bus stops with their wares parked right on the streets. I am yet to understand how and why the AMA has neither noticed these people nor taken any serious action to clear them off the roads in another decongestion exercise.
The public cannot be denied the use of these public facilities under no circumstances. I wish to see the AMA take appropriate measures to decongest our streets, roads and highways with the same passion and motivation they have used in flushing out hawkers and illegal structures that have been built along water ways and ramser sites.
I am sure there are regulations that clearly spell out guidelines for the erection of property in our cities for both residential and commercial use. It is rather amazing that property owners will defy these rules and go ahead to build their property without recourse to these regulations. Many vehicles are forced to park on our streets due to the lack of car parks.
The Disability Act stipulates that buildings should be “disability-friendly”. I am yet to be educated on the monitoring or supervisory agency tasked by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to ensure that the law was obeyed and the act implemented to favour that constituency of persons with disabilities. On this score, I wish to see the National Disability Council collaborate with the various MMDAs to enforce these regulations. New buildings are springing up daily and it is obvious that many of these contractors are not in tune with the dictates of this law. The construction companies must also be educated on the law and what is required of them to do to ensure its full implementation.
Our roads, streets and lanes are shrinking by the day due partly to the limited spaces available and the reckless abandon with which many real estate companies and property owners are erecting structures.
The AMA must wake up to this problem or else we might , in the next two decades, be overwhelmed by the terrible traffic jams if the combined threats of hawking, unavailable parking spaces, corruption and indiscipline are not dealt with to make more space available for road users in the country.
In a better Ghana, I wish to see a reduction in the time I spend each day commuting between my work place and my home.
In a better Ghana, I wish to see the sanitation situation, in the Pedestrian shopping Mall and many other markets dotted around the capital cities, improve.
In a better Ghana, I wish to see many Ghanaians express satisfaction in our collective effort to improve our living conditions and quality of life.
This is Accra; Live in-Love it!
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