Three pupils of the local Islamic school were killed on their way to school by a speeding vehicle on the Nante-Zongo stretch in the Kintampo South District Assembly of the Bono East region. After Anas, Bushira and Huzaifa were hit by a speeding vehicle, the driver fled and community members rushed to the aid of the deceased children.

The brother of the deceased, Razak Mohammed said, "When I had a call about their death, I was overwhelmed. How could this happen to my family?” He said that he was distressed for hours and thought the world was coming to an end. Razak described his late siblings as talented with a bright future, adding that much was expected of them by their family.

He said Anas was a footballer and Bushira and Huzaifa were also athletes in the local Islamic school. "We knew that, if Anas had grown up he would have definitely become a talented footballer. We were very sure about that." Razak said. 

Recently, Ayishatu Osman, Muhibatu Shaibu and Ubaidatu Suleiman, just between ages five and eight and also pupils of the local Islamic school were killed at the same spot. Munyoo Danladi lamented over the death of a relative at the same area adding that "this is very big concern to us."  

According to him, over 90 per cent of the community members are in distress over the frequency of accidents occurring in the area. "Every government pays lip service to this road. Why do we suffer for something that can be corrected?" he inquired. Munyoo Danladi is not alone.

Bilal Salia, another resident of the area who lost his niece on that road said "it will surprise you to know that, these calamities started in the early 90s or even before that. I witnessed several of them when I was young. Isn't it surprising to you that nothing better has been done to completely curb the situation?” he questioned incensed.

These tragedies raise questions about Ghana’s road regulations and enforcement, which are often neglected. In another tragic incident in 2017, Ibrahim Alhassan, chief of the ‘Zongo’ portion of the community was killed by a vehicle on that stretch.  

The 68-year-old was on his motorbike when the moving vehicle took him by surprise. This occurred eight years after his 42-year-old son, Asumah Ibrahim, died similarly at the same area which left the entire community shaken.

Many residents have now resorted to longer alternative routes to their homes and farms for fear of their lives. In September 2019, an officer of the Police Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) also died on this same stretch. Inspector Foster Ampomah was overrun by a DAF truck with registration GE 7562-14 after the driver ignored a signal by the officer to stop.

Residents have raised concerns to the Kintampo South District Assembly, requesting for rumble strips but to no avail.

District Chief Executive, Alex Gyan, however, told this reporter that his outfit has been speaking to the Ghana highway authority to take a critical look at the situation. 

"Even last week, I called the regional boss in Sunyani but they said officers would work on them." Mr. Gyan said. He said several other places within the district are calling for rumble strips to curb frequent road accidents.

Communities like Nante, Apaaso, Paninanisah, and Pamdu are the most affected by the road accidents. Currently, rumble strips have only been constructed on one section of the Nante-Zongo stretch, which according to residents is too far from the area where the accidents occur and has failed to mitigate the issue.

According to the district chief executive, the Ghana highway authority said they could only afford to construct one at the time. Residents are pleading for immediate action to be taken to put an end to the frequent accidents.