Teacher patches potholes for 16 years to prevent road crashes

Samuel Badu Dauda, a Physical Education and Health teacher at Jachie-Pramso Senior High School, has been voluntarily patching potholes along the Mankranso-Tepa-Sunyani road for the past 16 years to help prevent accidents. He began filling potholes on the stretch with gravel, sand, and laterite after witnessing several road crashes he believes could have been prevented. He stated, "When an accident occurs, kills people, and is attributed to potholes or bad roads, I feel sad for not taking responsibility. Seeing people dying on this road because of accidents is why I have taken it upon myself as a responsible citizen to help avert such accidents."

Mr. Dauda, a native of Tepa Ayinasuso, has been carrying out the repairs voluntarily since 2009, using his own resources and time after school. Potholes on roads contribute significantly to road crashes in Ghana, with studies indicating that poor road conditions account for about 15.50% of recorded accidents. The Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) often classify pothole-related incidents under "poor road conditions." Mr. Dauda noted that the Mankranso-Tepa road has deteriorated, forcing motorists to swerve or lose control, and that potholes become dangerous traps, especially during the rainy season.