What the IEA debates didn't tell us

The presidential debates initiated by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) have been welcomed by many. They at least push us towards the more entrenched democracies where candidates appear before well-informed audiences to respond to serious national issues. We can do better by going beyond the debates and holding periodic encounters where whoever wins the election to form the government could be put before a similar audience to respond to his/her campaign promises and not necessarily wait until the end of his/her term. Whether the debates will influence the voting pattern or whether the candidates will live up to their words are different matters but the venture is worth taking and we hope next time, all the presidential candidates will be offered equal opportunity to make their voices heard on the same platform. This year’s two debates held in Tamale and Accra might have addressed some serious issues but ignored what some may think are trivial and need not bother presidential candidates. Some of us think on a daily basis, some issues have become such a part of us that they should be ignored. But these issues must equally be given serious attention as the other good things promised by the candidates. The first that readily comes to mind is the traffic situation in Accra, our national capital. Accra is a relatively small city compared to some of the world capitals and mega-cities. However, the traffic situation in Accra surpasses that of most of the bigger and more densely populated cities in other parts of the world. The situation has become so terrible that one could hardly predict his/her movement from one part of the city to another with any form of accuracy. Throughout t the day, all roads leading to the city centre are choked with heavy traffic which exert enormous pressure on commuters. Workers and students who want to beat the traffic are compelled to wake up very early to set off. This means one has to wake up very early and return home very late. Such a routine is not good for anybody’s health. Those who cannot make the regular dawn journey are trapped for long hours in traffic and get to the office already exhausted. This seriously undermines the productivity we are all yearning for. The traffic situation is serious and it acts as a huge disincentive to those who will want to do business in the country, taking into account our relatively stable political environment and the resources at our disposal. The relief brought to commuters with the opening of the George Bush Expressway is a clear indication that Accra is greatly handicapped in modern road network befitting a modern capital city. Most of the intersections and roundabouts have become bottlenecks in traffic distribution in the capital. Several of the roundabouts in the capital city, including the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, the Obetsebi-Lamptey Circle, the Danquah Circle, have outlived their usefulness and must give way to modern designs and constructions that will take care of the numerous vehicles plying the city roads. In addition to that, we need a more efficient traffic light system than what is existing now. The Accra-Tema Motorway which was the nation’s pride is now worn out and only a symbol of a past glory. After 50 years or so, the motorway has paid its dues and must be decommissioned to give way to something new. Another thing the debates failed to tell us is what our presidents are going to do to stem road accidents which have become part of our daily lives. Some of us believe that the sermons are not doing the trick and we need to address the fundamental issues right from the office of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to road checks mounted by the officers and men of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service. If in the past we did not factor road safety as a major national issue, things have changed drastically and we need to give the matter a special attention if we are to restore sanity onto our roads. Perhaps it is time to redefine the mandate of the MTTU as a special wing of the Ghana Police Service with service head whose authority is national and not what pertains now when the MTTU boss has a big title but very little authority. Another national canker is the indiscipline that has permeated the building industry in the country. Two weeks ago, we were witnesses to a tragic event, when a five-storey building collapsed killing 14 innocent people and injuring many others. For those who survived, many will live with the psychological scar for the rest of their lives. Part of the traffic problem mentioned earlier could be attributed to the haphazard way many buildings have been constructed in the city with some taking land that was originally earmarked for roads. We cannot talk about good health without paying attention to the filth that is swallowing the capital city. Accra’s sanitation problems have become a major issue that must be addressed with all seriousness and we would want to hear the voices of our presidential candidates on such major issues. Others may not see it as a big problem but begging in the city especially at traffic intersections has become a menace. It can be scary when someone emerges from your blind side begging for alms. Sometimes it is not easy to tell who is a beggar and who is an armed robber. Both operate at traffic intersections. While focusing on the big issues of unemployment, education, energy and others let us not lose sight of the fact that these little things play significant roles in our daily lives and need to be tackled with equal zeal. fokofi@yahoo.co.uk kofiakordor.blogspot.com