Car dealers block Kwashieman footbridge walkway, exposing pedestrians to danger

Roadside car dealers have blocked the pedestrian walkway leading to the Kwashieman footbridge in Accra, making it difficult for pedestrians to cross the N1 highway.

The dealers, who have been operating alongside the highway, have now extended their activities onto part of the walkway to the footbridge.

They have displayed cars for sale to cover almost half of the path, forcing pedestrians to struggle for space as they walk to and from the footbridge.

The situation has forced pedestrians to cross the busy George Walker Bush Highway, where speeding cars pass almost every minute.

The walkway was constructed to give pedestrians safe access to the footbridge and to protect them from the fast-moving vehicles on the N1. However, with cars now parked on the walkway, pedestrians are being pushed closer to the main road, exposing them to danger.

Some pedestrians who use the footbridge daily say the situation is worrying, especially during rush hours when many people use the route to cross to the other side.

According to residents, schoolchildren, the elderly and persons carrying loads are the most affected because they find it difficult to manoeuvre through the narrow space left by the parked cars.

They are appealing to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the Ghana Highway Authority and the law enforcement agencies to intervene and remove the cars from the walkway.

They say if the dealers are not stopped, they will completely take over the walkway and permanently force pedestrians onto the highway, which could lead to accidents and loss of life.

The pedestrians are calling for regular enforcement to keep the walkway clear and safe for its intended purpose.