Bolgatanga: Sumbrungu youth block highway over rising road deaths

Angry youth of Sumbrungu in the Bolgatanga Municipality have raised serious concerns about frequent road accidents and loss of lives, particularly among school children, along the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Highway between the Sumbrungu Azimso and Aloreyikuka stretch.

Led by the Assembly Member for the Sumbrungu Azorebisi Electoral Area, Elias Ayinbila Apasiya, the youth staged a protest in the early hours of Friday, February 6, 2026, blocking portions of the highway to draw attention to what they describe as years of inaction despite repeated appeals to authorities.

The area, which hosts several schools, has become increasingly dangerous due to speeding motorists, resulting in numerous pedestrian knockdowns. The protest briefly halted the Upper East Regional Police Commander, DCOP John Ferguson Dzineku, who was traveling to Paga on official duty.

DCOP Dzineku questioned the protesters and described the road blockade as unlawful, asking why such action was taken. In response, Mr Apasiya explained that several letters had been written to the Highways Authority without any response, even as community members and school children continued to lose their lives.

After listening to the concerns, DCOP Dzineku acknowledged the gravity of the situation and exchanged contacts with the Assembly Member. He assured the youth that upon his return from Paga, they would visit the Upper East Regional Minister to seek urgent intervention to improve safety in the area.

The Upper East Region continues to face road safety challenges, with the Bolgatanga Municipality recording the highest number of road crashes in the region. Motorbikes remain a major contributor to these incidents, reinforcing calls for immediate safety measures along accident-prone sections of the highway.