NRSC calls for emergency fund to finance potholes repair

Mr Sebastian Akyeampong, Volta Regional Manager of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) on Thursday called for an emergency fund to finance the repair of potholes in the country.

He said delay in repairing potholes because of financial difficulties has become a major contributing factor to the increasing road crashes in the country.

“Potholes are major issues now and we need to tackle them with urgency,” Mr Akyeampong said.

Mr Akyeampong made the call at the first regional road safety stakeholders’ meeting in this year.

Mr Kwabena Kyei, Road Area Manager of the Ghana Highway Authority, said contractors blamed their inability to repair potholes on non-payment for work done.

He said in other countries, potholes do not exist for 24 hours and described Ghana’s situation as serious.

Mr Kyei said though the Road Fund was established for routine road maintenance, the Fund was now being used for “major capital intensive work.”

Dr George Acquaye, Medical Director of the Volta Regional Hospital, said potholes and speed rumps apart from causing road crashes could cause osteophites (pains) in human bones especially among people above forty years.

Source: GNA