TIG Post

Tag: Speed Ramp

  • 2 arrested for erecting unauthorised speed ramp, causing damage to road

    2 arrested for erecting unauthorised speed ramp, causing damage to road

    Two people have been arrested for destroying a road and erecting an unauthorised speed ramp along the Ho – Sogakope highway in the Volta Region.

    The two have been identified as Saviour Azakasi and Quarshie Godson.

    They were seen in a viral video, in the company of other suspects, causing damage to the highway with concrete blocks and other materials.

    According to a tweet from the Ghana Police Service, both suspects are currently in custody assisting investigation while efforts are underway to get the other suspects arrested.

  • Speed ramps on highways must be abandoned for speed cameras – Scientist tells government

    Speed ramps on highways must be abandoned for speed cameras – Scientist tells government

    On November 17, 2021, Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, announced the removal of all tollbooths from public roads nationwide.

    This strategic decision received accolades from Ghanaian Scientist Dr. Charles Odame-Ankrah, based in Canada, who commended it as a smart and decisive initiative to address vehicular emissions and combat climate change.

    The immediate impact of the tollbooth removal was a noticeable reduction in vehicular traffic, with the promise of long-term benefits for human health across Ghana.

    Building on this momentum, Ghana’s Parliament took a historic stand on December 24, 2023, by passing the emissions levy.

    Dr. Odame-Ankrah celebrated the passage of the Emissions Levy Act as a pivotal stride in Ghana’s commitment to sustainable climate change efforts.

    This recognition followed his earlier proposal, gaining prominence after the United States Patent Office patented his innovative work.

    Renowned for his background in air quality sciences, Dr. Odame-Ankrah had advocated for the emissions levy as a groundbreaking alternative to tollbooths, providing a local solution to generate revenue for climate change initiatives.

    His visionary insight highlights the Act’s potential not only to reduce emissions but also to propel Ghana toward a more sustainable future, creating thousands of jobs through the establishment of an air quality monitoring network.

    Responding to this monumental step, Dr. Odame-Ankrah emphasized the need for immediate action, calling for the removal of all speed ramps nationwide.

    Instead, he proposed replacing them with speed cameras to enforce posted speed limits, identifying vehicle owners through their numbers and imposing hefty violation fines.

    Dr. Odame-Ankrah argued that this move would further enhance the reduction in emissions, as speed ramps, designed for safety, contribute to vehicle pollution, negatively impacting human health.

    He urged the government to allocate a portion of the revenue from the emissions levy to establish a comprehensive air quality monitoring network across Ghana.

    This strategic measure, he asserted, is crucial in the fight against climate change, providing policymakers with verified data for informed decision-making to protect the environment and human life.

    The passage of the Emissions Levy Act symbolizes Ghana’s Parliament’s profound commitment to proactively combat climate change.

    It signifies not only a transformative policy shift but also Ghana’s leadership in embracing innovative solutions endorsed by experts like Dr. Charles Odame-Ankrah.

    As Ghana strides boldly toward a greener, more sustainable future, the implementation of a robust air quality monitoring network stands poised to fortify the nation’s resolve in decisively combating climate change and creating well-paying jobs.

  • Bawku Conflict: National Media Commission cautions against “weaponisation” of the media

    The National Media Commission (NMC) has expressed concerns over the “increasing weaponization of the media in the Bawku conflict. “

    It noted an escalation in incidences of hate speech, disinformation and incitement on radio of “a scale and scope”that posed “a clear and present danger to the Bawku community” and cautioned radio stations in the enclave to be circumspect.

    A press release issued by Mr George Sarpong, Executive Secretary, NMC, said some of the cases were “closely reminiscent of the egregious misbehavior of Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) in the Rwandan genocide.”

    It said the collective search for peace must be anchored on a proper balance between the right of radio stations to broadcast and the legitimate need of society to protect public order as envisaged under articles 162,163 and 164 of the Constitution (1992).

    The Commission said, “drastic consequences attend on culpability,” and called on owners of radio stations in Bawku to adopt stronger gatekeeping measures to ensure that persons with interests in the conflict did not hijack radio stations to foment trouble.

    “ Owners must be careful who they recruit as programme hosts and, which persons are invited as guests on discussion programmes. Owners must remember that they bear ultimate responsibility for whatever happens on their networks.”

    It gave all owners of radio stations in the Bawku area two weeks to submit to the Commission clear measures they had put in place to ensure professionalism.

    The Commission also advised media houses outside Bawku to be very circumspect in their coverage of the conflict and reminded media practitioners about the prosecution of journalists at the International Criminal Court and asked them to be guided by that.

    “Ultimately, it is important for stakeholders to understand that at the core of the tension between free expression and public safety is the need to seek the public good,” the Commission said.

    It said the Media Foundation for West Africa and the Ghana Independent Broadcasters’ Association had offered to assist any broadcaster in Bawku who may require assistance to review gatekeeping and professional systems and asked radio stations there to take advantage of the offer.

    Source: GNA