By Isaac Arkoh
Cape Coast, Oct. 02, GNA – The Central Region Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in collaboration with the Department of Parks and Gardens, on Wednesday begun clearing, pruning and felling dangerous trees along major roads in the Cape Coast Metropolis.
The exercise was intended to reduce road crashes, improve visibility for motorists and pedestrians and protect lives and property from falling branches and unstable trees.
The move followed a directive from the Regional Disaster Management Committee (RDMC) in response to recurring road safety hazards and frequent vehicular accidents reported within the Metropolis.
Overgrown canopies, low-hanging branches and decaying trees along major road corridors have reportedly obstructed motorists’ views, concealed road signs and created dangers at intersections, sharp bends and pedestrian crossings.
Mr David Owu, a NADMO official whom Ghana News Agency met during the exercise at Second Ridge Road, said the initiative was part of efforts to move from reactive disaster management to proactive risk reduction.
“Our primary objective is safety. By identifying and removing these structural hazards before the onset of severe weather or further traffic incidents, we are directly addressing a clear and persistent danger to motorists, commuters and pedestrians across the metropolis,” he said.
He urged motorists, commercial drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution, observe temporary traffic diversions and cooperate with personnel working at the various sites.
He also encouraged residents to report unstable or hazardous trees along public rights-of-way to the appropriate NADMO offices for assessment.
Alternatively, residents could reach the Central Region Public Affairs Directorate of NADMO through Mr Samuel Essel Duku, Regional Deputy Director, Public Relations on 0246387732 or email: [email protected] or [email protected] for urgent attention.
Some residents expressed relief and happiness after the dangerous trees near their homes and along the Second Ridge Road were cut, saying the exercise had reduced the risk of accidents and damage to property.
They commended NADMO and the Department of Parks and Gardens for responding to their concerns and urged the authorities to extend the exercise to other areas where unstable trees continued to pose a threat.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey /Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Isaac Arkoh