Madina-Adenta Highway: ’24 Lives Lost Not 192′- Kweku Baako

Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper Abdul Malik Kweku Baako says official reports from the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) reveals that 24 persons have lost their lives on the Madina-Adenta Highway and not 192 as some reports claim.

There have been several conflicting figures about the number of lives that have been lost on the stretch but Baako says official reports indicate 24 have died with 164 others injured.

A fresh protest by residents living at Madina-Adentan has forced government to take action on some six uncompleted footbridges on the highway.

The violent protests came after an 18-year-old student was knocked and killed by a taxi driver on the highway on Thursday.

The first-year West African Secondary School (WASS) student was on her way to school when the unfortunate incident occurred sparking the riots that left motorist in traffic for hours.

However responding to the claims on Newsfile on Joy News, veteran journalist believes the real facts needs to be presented to the public devoid of all lies and unnecessary fabrications.

”Records are clear, death lost on the stretch is not 164, is rather 24. We must speak to the issue above partisan politics and as well stop the unnecessary blaming games. An Immediate solution to the road carnage will be the best option” – he said.

According to him, he finds the politicization of the issue unfortunate and would have loved if debates on it were devoid of partisan elements.

Providing a history for the project, the newspaper editor said funds for the project was sourced in 2008 and contract was awarded the same year for work to begin in 2009.

Referring to a design review document dated September 2014, Baako said as far back as 2014 the project had stalled because of lack of funds, almost two years before the NDC lost power. He found it intriguing how the NDC will create the impression that the contractor was on site in 2016.