Okere: DISEC closes Apirede-Somanya road over frequent deadly accidents
The Okere District Security Committee has closed the Apirede-Kwamante-Somanya road temporarily.
This is due to the rampant vehicular crashes recorded on the hilly stretch almost every month since it was constructed.
A statement issued by the District Chief Executive of Okere District, Daniel Kenneth, who is chairman of DISEC, said, “The general public and motorists who ply the Apirede – Kwamante -Somanya Road are being informed of the Temporal closure of that road by the District Security Committee (DISEC) effective October 7 2022. This action has become necessary due to the frequency of fatal accidents happening on the road”.
Several lives have been lost on the curvy road within the past few weeks through ghastly crashes.
A month ago, a Lecturer and three students of the University of Education -Winneba (UEW) died in a crash on the road whilst dozens of students sustained injuries.
On Friday, October 7, 2022, six mourners travelling from Koforidua to Aflao perished, whilst 18 others sustained injuries after a Sprinter bus transporting them also crashed into the escarpment.
DISEC further directed road users to ply the Adukrom-Aseseeso-Trom Junction Road.
“Motorists travelling to Somanya and beyond are to use the Adukrom-Aseseeso-Trom Junction road whilst the District collaborates with Feeder Roads and National Road Safety Commission to improve the safety of the road.”
“We are urging the general public and motorists to bear with us, as it is in the interest of preventing the fatal accidents on that road and saving lives,” the statement said.
Due to the ongoing construction of the Koforidua -Adukrom-Somanya highway, many drivers prefer the accident-prone Apirede-Somanya road that is bridled with sharp descending curves.
Some have blamed the accidents on engineering defects on the road, hidden road signs, and a lack of guardrails to prevent vehicles that fail to brake from crashing into a ditch.