Confusion over road blocks for Prez Obama visit
Audrey Micah, Ghanadot
Accra, July 12, Ghanadot -
Saturday morning was a very bad day for motorist plying the
principal streets of the capital. The Ghana Police
administration today came under heavy criticisms from
motorists who claim traffic has been managed poorly as a
result of Obama’s visit.
Traffic around the newly
constructed Presidential Palace through to Osu was blocked
to make movement easy for President Obama.
But one motorist claimed
the closure was not necessary
since only a potion of the dual carriage road could be used
for that purpose.
Another Ghana from the US,
Washington, D.C said he had never seen a president,
including Obama, stop traffic for more than ten minutes on
any given day.
Comparing former president Bush’s visit to that President
Obama, others maintained that
things were different with the arrangement of the event,
saying they did not go through with these
problems of road blocks.
There was displeasure
everywhere and some shared this
with Ghanadot, saying “I have been here since morning but
these police officers are not helping issues here at all.
How can they block the whole road when they know that is the
only road that connects 37 to Osu? This is very bad”
lamented a Taxi driver.
“This did not happen during former president Bush’s visit to
Ghana. This road was wide open and we were free doing our
work without any bother, but only with Mr. Obama, the police
are over doing their work.”
The situation aggravated serious arguments between the
policemen on duty and some motorists who tried to challenge
the police officers.
A sick woman who was in a Taxi had to constantly beg the
police with the help of some media persons before she was
allowed to pass.
Those who could no longer stand the humiliation resorted to
wait in their cars while others slept in their cars while
they wait for the road to be opened.
Police officers who were posted there refused to speak to
the press saying, they were
following orders.
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President Obama ..."Now, make no mistake:
History is on the side of these brave Africans,
not with those who use coups or change
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Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong
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