The Chronicle yesterday witnessed yet another incident at the Neoplan Bus Station on the Accra-Achimota Road that underscores the growing disregard some motorists have for traffic regulations. As the traffic lights turned red, vehicles came to a halt as required by law. However, one motorist deliberately ignored the signal and sped through the intersection.
What made the incident particularly disturbing was that a police officer stationed only a few metres away under a traffic police tent failed to notice the blatant violation because he appeared to be preoccupied with his mobile phone. The offending driver escaped without being stopped or sanctioned. Sadly, this is only one of the many instances of traffic indiscipline that The Chronicle has observed on our roads, where some motorists openly violate the law without facing any consequences.
The incident also brought into sharp focus another long-standing traffic problem that has persisted for several months at the Ecobank-Ghana branch at Lapaz. The entrance to the bank has gradually been turned into an unofficial taxi rank by commercial drivers, who park indiscriminately while waiting for passengers. The practice has become so entrenched that vehicles entering or leaving the banking premises often struggle to manoeuvre, while traffic along the already congested road is unnecessarily impeded.
What makes the situation even more baffling is that a police station is located directly adjacent to the bank with a police traffic post also situated nearby on the Lapaz N1 Highway, yet little or nothing appears to have been done to stop the unlawful occupation of the area. Taken together, these observations point to the need for constant vigilance and consistent enforcement, if the gains being made in road traffic management are to be sustained.
There can be no doubt that the Ghana Police Service deserves praise for the impressive work it has done in recent months to restore discipline on our roads. The renewed visibility of police officers, coupled with stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, has significantly improved compliance among motorists. Many road users now exercise greater caution because they know the law is increasingly being enforced. This deserves recognition.
However, commendation should not prevent constructive criticism where it is warranted. The effectiveness of policing is measured not only by large-scale operations but also by the daily commitment of officers to remain alert and enforce the law consistently.
The incident at the Neoplan Bus Station illustrates how a brief moment of distraction can undermine public confidence. A driver who deliberately runs a red light poses a serious danger to pedestrians and other motorists. The presence of a police officer should ordinarily discourage such recklessness. Unfortunately, if officers become distracted while on duty, the very purpose of their deployment is defeated.
Even more troubling is the situation at Lapaz, which has been allowed to continue for far too long. The illegal occupation of the entrance to Ecobank by taxi drivers is not a recent development. It has become an accepted practice despite the proximity of police personnel. Every day, customers, motorists and other road users are forced to contend with avoidable congestion simply because existing traffic regulations are not being enforced. Such indiscipline, if ignored, only encourages others to flout the law.
The Chronicle is not suggesting that the Ghana Police Service has failed in its overall mandate. On the contrary, the institution has demonstrated remarkable commitment in many respects. Nevertheless, isolated lapses and long-standing enforcement gaps deserve urgent attention before they erode the gains already made.
We therefore urge police commanders to strengthen supervision of officers on traffic duty and ensure they remain fully focused while on duty. Equally, traffic personnel should pay closer attention to congestion hotspots such as Lapaz, where consistent enforcement, not occasional interventions, is required.
Road discipline cannot be achieved by periodic exercises alone. It must become a continuous commitment. The Ghana Police Service has shown that it possesses the capacity to enforce the law. What the public now expects is consistency, vigilance and professionalism at every duty post, every single day.
