Motorists' Nightmare Is Here

Rainy seasons expose the hypocrisy of road maintenance in Accra, the nation's capital.

Above all, they underscore how public funds are dissipated without considering the economic sense of such expenditures.

What sense is there in releasing so much funds for filling potholes only for these to return to their previous states after the first rains?

Even before the season began and the Ghana Meteorological Services Agency's (GMSA) forecasts about heavy downpours became public knowledge, we witnessed gangs of workers patching potholes on the roads – the quality of which work could best be described as 'wishywashy.'

The number of vehicles, which have suffered costly effects and accidents as a result of these potholes – which have seen countless fillings over the years – can only be imagined.

Besides the replacement costs of vehicle spare parts to motorists, these stagnant-waterfilled potholes are the sources of unavoidable accidents: spotting them unexpectedly demands that drivers do abrupt manouvres, which are prone to mishaps when vehicles approaching from the opposite directions collide.

For a nation's capital such as Accra, the quality of our road network leaves much to be desired; and it pains to think that this has been the picture over many years. These roads, before the rainy season, glitter as though they are routes, which can stand the test of time.

Enter the rainy season and their true worth stands out prominently.

The relevant authorities such as the Department of Urban Roads might be spared blame for the state of the roads in as much as the provision of funds is concerned. But when it comes to okaying the quality of work done by the contractors engaged to fill the potholes, we can sneer at them for poor work done.

We are told that before payment or certificates for the completion of such works are issued, the contracts must be inspected. As to whether this is done or not, we are unable to tell.

The usual challenge of orders for payments to be made thereby breaching standards, could be the reason why things have taken this turn.

When such orders are given for release of funds to contractors who dangle ruling party membership, technocrats are unable to decline.

With the rainy season about to peak, there is no denying the fact that we are in for a long haul during which the existing potholes would expand in diameter, causing further damage to vehicles which owners are already suffering the pangs of a depressed economy.

As for the new potholes, which would be created as a result of weakened roads, we are yet to consider how they too would aggravate an already bad state.

With second-hand vehicle parts importers set to transfer the effects of skyrocketing cost of parts to motorists and the Cedi still on the backfoot, there is no light at the end of the dark tunnel.