The roads of Bongo in the Upper East Region, spanning Balungo, Namoo, Nayorigo, Boko, Feo, and Soe have long suffered from poor infrastructure. But beyond potholes and dust, a more insidious hazard has emerged: unauthorized speed ramps, constructed by frustrated communities seeking protection but instead becoming deadly traps.
Recent tragedies including the death of a young man from Feo and another seriously injured after crashing into one underscore the growing crisis of road accidents in Bongo.
A Regional Crisis in Numbers
The concern is not confined to one or two incidents. Region-wide data illustrates how dire the situation has become.
In 2023, the Upper East Region recorded 143 road crashes, up from 135 in 2022—representing a 5.93% increase. Tragically, road fatalities surged by 54.76%, from 42 to 65. Pedestrian deaths rose by 44.44%, reaching 26 lives lost.
Motorcycle users remain especially vulnerable. In early 2025, motorcycles were implicated in 53% of accidents, causing 18 of the 30 reported deaths in the first quarter.
Still, there are glimmers of progress. By mid-2024, the region saw a 41.81% reduction in road crashes and a 33.72% drop in injuries compared to the previous year, even as fatalities remained steady at 35.
Communities in Crisis: Safety vs. Survival
Residents say these ramps are made in desperation. Motorists frequently speed through villages, wreaking havoc—killing livestock and threatening children. “We begged drivers to slow down…but they don’t listen…if the authorities won’t protect us, we must protect ourselves,” a resident of Balungo lamented.
Yet, these ramps, often made of piled soil lack engineering standards. Usually abrupt, unmarked, and invisible at night, they force motorcyclists into catastrophic crashes. In Feo, the latest ramp-related fatality has reignited community fears and calls for urgent change.
Fatal Flaws, Expert Alarm
Road safety experts are unequivocal: these unauthorized ramp constructions are harmful, not helpful. Transport engineering guidelines typically mandate speed bumps no higher than 75 mm and about 3.7 m long, with proper signage. But in Bongo, the ramps are steep and poorly placed, with no warning or reflective markings, turning rural roads into loaded landmines.
Institutions Speak: Policy vs. Reality
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) have long decried unapproved speed bumps as “death traps.” Despite a 2014 mandate to remove them, enforcement is lacking in remote districts. In Bongo, local authorities admit the situation but plead for technical and logistical support from national agencies. Without proper alternatives, residents continue building and inadvertently harming one another.
The Human Toll and Economic Impact
Behind the numbers lie shattered families. The young man from Feo, now gone, was just one of many whose lives ended too soon. Beyond emotion lies economic pain: a regional study highlighted how motorcycle accidents cost Bolgatanga, Bongo’s neighboring municipality an estimated US $1.2 million annually in medical expenses, property damage, and lost labor.
A Call to Save Lives—Not Build Hazards
Bongo’s situation reveals more than community frustration, it reflects systemic neglect of rural road safety. To reverse the trend, authorities must:
- Replace dangerous, unauthorized humps with properly engineered, signposted traffic calming measures.
- Intensify road safety campaigns in communities, focusing on education and collaboration.
- Increase patrols and enforcement to curb speeding, especially motorcycles and commercial vehicles.
Until then, every unmarked ramp remains a hidden danger, one more obstacle that can turn a routine drive into tragedy.
