MISORNU Safety Centre Urges Increased Vigilance and Road Safety as Schools Reopen
Accra, September 6, GNA – The MISORNU Safety Centre, a non-governmental organisation focused on public safety and security awareness, has called for increased road safety measures to protect schoolchildren as basic schools in Ghana reopen for the 2026/2027 academic year.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Sunday, the Centre urged motorists, parents, schools, transport operators, and public authorities to take additional precautions as the reopening of schools would lead to increased pedestrian and vehicular movement.
The Centre advised motorists to reduce their speed around schools, pedestrian crossings, bus stops, and residential areas. It also urged drivers to avoid dangerous overtaking and distracted driving and to always give way to pedestrians, particularly children, who are among the most vulnerable road users.
The Centre cited statistics from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), which showed that Ghana recorded 2,561 pedestrian knockdowns in 2025, including 328 victims below the age of 18.
It further stated that between January and April 2026, the Authority recorded 666 pedestrian knockdowns and 181 pedestrian deaths nationwide.
According to the Centre, the reopening of schools should be treated as an important road safety period requiring increased vigilance, enforcement, education, sustained traffic management, and proactive coordination among relevant agencies.
It encouraged the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service to consider introducing a Special School Safety Operation, involving the strategic deployment of personnel to high-risk school zones, major intersections, and pedestrian crossings during peak school hours.
The Centre said the operation should combine visible traffic enforcement and management with targeted engagements involving pupils, parents, school authorities, school-bus operators, drivers, and motor riders.
Parents and guardians were also advised to accompany younger children where practicable and reinforce safe road-crossing practices, including the use of pavements and designated pedestrian crossings.
The Centre further advised parents and schools to discourage children from using electronic gadgets while walking near traffic.
School-bus and commercial drivers transporting pupils were urged to avoid speeding and overloading, ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy, and use safe pick-up and drop-off points that do not expose children to moving traffic.
Transport unions and commercial motor rider (okada) associations were encouraged to provide short daily road safety briefings to their members through various communication platforms and reinforce safe and responsible road-use practices.
The Centre also called on school authorities to make road safety a key part of school assemblies and classroom engagements and to provide appropriate supervision during school arrival and closing periods.
Road agencies and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies were urged to urgently inspect school zones and ensure that pedestrian crossings, warning signs, speed-reducing measures, and other road safety facilities are visible, functional, and appropriate for protecting children.
The MISORNU Safety Centre said it remains committed to building a safety-first mindset and culture through public education, research, and practical safety and security awareness.
