Residents, commuters and transport operators along the busy Aflao-Denu highway in the Volta Region have expressed growing concern over the absence of functional traffic lights on major intersections along the stretch, describing the situation as a serious threat to road safety.
According to road users, the highway, which serves as a major international corridor linking Ghana to neighbouring Togo and other West African countries, has witnessed increasing vehicular and human traffic in recent years, yet critical traffic management systems remain inadequate.
Motorists and pedestrians say the lack of traffic lights at key junctions in communities such as Aflao, Klikor, Some and Denu has resulted in frequent near-collisions, congestion and accidents, particularly during peak hours.
Commercial drivers operating on the route noted that the situation becomes more dangerous at night and during heavy market days when large numbers of pedestrians attempt to cross the highway amid speeding vehicles.
Korshie Kumah, a commercial driver at Aflao, said drivers often struggle to navigate intersections because there are no clear traffic control systems to regulate movement.
“The road is very busy every day, especially with cargo trucks and cross-border vehicles. Without traffic lights, both drivers and pedestrians are exposed to danger,” he stated.
Some residents also blamed reckless driving and excessive speeding for worsening the problem, arguing that the absence of traffic signals has made it difficult to enforce discipline on the road.
Esinam Alagbo, a trader at Denu, appealed to authorities to urgently install modern traffic lights and pedestrian crossing systems to help reduce accidents.
“We fear for school children and elderly people who cross the road daily. Sometimes vehicles from different directions compete at junctions without any control,” she lamented.
Transport unions in the area have also called on the Ghana Highway Authority and the Department of Urban Roads to prioritise traffic safety interventions on the highway.
Torgbi Kpambi Vedzesu V, a Senior Divisional Chief of Aflao-Teshie and National Chairman for Max Transport Union of Ghana, suggested the installation of traffic lights, speed calming measures, road signs and increased police visibility to improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians.
He urged the Ketu South and Ketu North Municipalities to collaborate with road safety agencies to address the issue before more lives are lost.
Officials of the National Road Safety Authority in the region have on several occasions advised motorists to observe road regulations and exercise caution on highways, particularly on international transit routes.
Residents believe the growing commercial importance of the Aflao-Denu highway demands urgent investment in modern traffic management infrastructure to ensure safer movement of people and goods within the enclave and across the sub-region.