The Chairman of the National Council for Civic Education and Democracy (NaCCED), Mr. Joseph Munda Bindi on Tuesday 9th September held a Round Table Dialogue Meeting of Stakeholders in the Transport Sector and Road Safety Management in Sierra Leone. The dialogue seeks to map the way forward for the proper use of the overhead bridges and use of traffic lights in the country.
Addressing strategic stakeholders in the road safety and transport sector, Chairman Bindi narrated the ugly incidents in the road and traffic management, the spate of road accidents which have resulted in deaths and injuries to citizens, misuse of road safety measures and blatant disregard for law and order and expressed the urgent need for relevant stakeholders to come together to address the problems; focusing attention on issues surrounding the traffic lights/signals and the need for pedestrians to use the overhead bridges to ensure the overall safety of people.
Mr. Bindi explained that the work of NaCCED is to bring awareness and consciousness on the rights, responsibilities and duties of citizens in promoting national development, peace and social cohesion. He went on to say that NaCCED is a support driven institution and its mandate is in line with every development agenda in the country. Hence, the initiative to work with all institutions concerned in the transport and road safety management sector. He affirmed that upon heading the factfinding mission in the bilateral engagements of institutions in the transportation sector, he studied the landscape of traffic movement and its challenges especially in Freetown, which laid the foundation to find tangible solutions to this problem.
The Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mr. Rex Bonapha, stated that this is a timely step as the transport sector needs an overhaul in the country, noting that the institutions present for the dialogue should bring tangible and lasting solutions to transport and road safety issues.
Mr. Rex Bonapha continuing his statement acknowledged the timeliness of the stakeholders meeting as he had just concluded an international meeting in Addis Ababa on the Africa Union roads safety charter which Sierra Leone is a signatory. He however said that on a sad note, every year in Africa, up to three hundred thousand people lost their lives in road crashes despite the fact that Africa has the lowest motorization in the entire world.
Mr. Bonapha said the fifteen million dollars Integrated Resilient Urban Mobility Project gave birth to the overhead bridges and traffic lights at specific intersections in Freetown to act as safeguards to pedestrians and other road users, but we are yet to enjoy this development either through misuse or no use.
It was because of this lack that the Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority was also established.
The Deputy Minister also specifically referenced the pedestrian bridge at Shell which guards were also installed to facilitate pedestrians to use the overhead bridge, however motorists are always vandalizing the guard which led to a new enforcement that motorists will now pay for damages and repairs when facilities are vandalized. He said with the coming of NaCCED as the trusted middle man in mapping the way forward and engaging the public on the proper use of this urban development initiative, positive and sustained change will occur.
Director of Information and Communications at Sierra Leone Roads Authority, Madam Roselyn Deigh emphasized on the collaborative efforts by the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, the Sierra Leone Police and the Sierra Leone Roads Safety Authority in mounting efforts to clear the right of way. She however stressed that enforcement by the Sierra Leone Police is key in order for the longevity of these roads.
Meaningful contributions were made by all stakeholders present at the meeting and a roadmap was agreed upon in which institutions were assigned specific actions and responsibilities which will be implemented in the next six (6) months.
With these recommendations, the National Council for Civic Education and Democracy will provide coordination and lead civic education and engagement responsibilities
