Major roads to be closed for President’s inauguration

A number of roads in Accra would be closed from 0600 hours to 1800 hours on Monday, January 7, 2013, in connection with the inaugural ceremony of the President.

Chief Superintendent Samuel Tetteh, Deputy Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), told journalists at a press briefing on the event, on Thursday in Accra.

He named the roads to be closed as the 28th February Road from the CEPS Headquarters to the Castle Junction, the Osu cemetery traffic light on the Lokko Street, the Osu Cemetry (Starlets 95 Road)-Ministries Traffic light and the Castle Road from the AU circle to the Osu Cemetry Traffic light.

Chief Superintendent Tetteh said traffic from the AU Circle towards the Castle road through the Osu Cemetry traffic light would be diverted unto the Second and Third Avenue roads to take a detour through the Ghana Institute of Journalism and link with the Abdul Nasser Road, near the British High Commission.

Traffic from the 28th February Road towards the Independence Square would be diverted unto the Liberia Road at the CEPS Headquaters, towards the National Theatre Traffic Light Intersection, the Deputy MTTU Comander said.

“Motorist from Osu are advised to use the Sir Quist/Kinbu roads and traffic from the Lokko Street towards the Castle road would be diverted to the starlets 95 road.”

On parking arrangements during the event, he said members of the Diplomatic Corps and Foreign guests would park their vehicles at the Accra International Conference Center with their yellow stickers, whilst Members of Parliament, Former Ministers of State and Former Deputy Ministers of State as well as other invited guests would park their vehicles at the fore-court of State House with their Green stickers.

Chief Superintendent Tetteh said those with red invitation cards or red stickers would park their vehicles at Access Bank or the former Intercontinental bank.

Other VIP vehicle owners with the black sticker, would park their vehicles at the Afua Sutherland Car Park.

He said “only VVIPs or vehicles with the purple sticker would be allowed to park at the Independence Square car parks.”

The Deputy MTTU Commander said buses would be provided to shuttle all invited dignitaries from their designated car parks to the venue and stressed, “no vehicle, apart from vehicles with purple stickers, would be allowed within the enclaves of the Independence Square.

He said no motor bicycle would be permitted into the enclaves of the Independence Square.

Chief Superintendent Tetteh advised motorists to avoid parking their vehicles within the perimeter of the Independence Arch and on the verges of the roads and reminded them of the consequences of flouting motor traffic regulations bordering such events.

He said vehicles parked at unauthorized places within the areas mentioned would be towed and the drivers prosecuted.

The Deputy MTTU Commander said by 1800 hours on the same day, the road restrictions would be lifted, and called for the full co-operation of the public and motorists.

President elect, John Dramani Mahama, would be officially sworn to office as President of the Republic of Ghana, at the Independence Square in Accra, on January 7, 2013.

Source: GNA