Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Dumelo, has pledged to push for immediate road safety interventions following the death of a University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC–Institute of Journalism) student on the George Walker Bush Highway.
The deceased, Nelson Blay Nokotey, a journalism student, was reportedly knocked down by a vehicle while attempting to cross the highway near the Dzorwulu traffic light intersection after visiting the UniMAC South Legon campus on his way home.
The incident has renewed public concern over the safety of pedestrians along the Dzorwulu–Lapaz stretch of the N1, a section widely described by commuters and residents as dangerous due to persistent overspeeding and inadequate crossing infrastructure.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, January 24, 2026, Dumelo described the death as unacceptable and called for urgent measures.
“The safety of each student in Ayawaso West is my utmost priority. The passing away of Nelson, the student journalist who was trying to cross the N1, is very unfortunate,” he said.
He added, “As an MP, it is my responsibility to ensure that appropriate measures are taken immediately to prevent similar tragedies.”
Although the speed limit on the stretch is 70km/h, reports indicate that some motorists travel at speeds of up to 120km/h, increasing the risk to pedestrians.
Students of UniMAC–IJ South Legon are said to frequently cross the highway on foot, often choosing unsafe routes to avoid a nearly 400-metre walk to the nearest designated crossing point.
The UniMAC community has been thrown into mourning following the incident.
On Friday, January 23, hundreds of students gathered on campus for a candlelight vigil, holding photographs of Nokotey and calling for the urgent construction of a pedestrian footbridge near the school.
Dumelo also extended his condolences to the university community, saying, “My sincere condolences to the family and also to the entire GIJ community. I am with you.”
Although the Department of Urban Roads has announced traffic disruptions to allow for the construction of a new pedestrian bridge at Abeka–Lapaz, the Dzorwulu intersection — where the fatal incident occurred — remains without similar intervention.
Dumelo is expected to lobby the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Ghana Highway Authority to fast-track safety measures in the area.
These include expanding street lighting under his “Light Up Ayawaso West” initiative, installing rumble strips to reduce speeding, and exploring the feasibility of constructing a pedestrian footbridge closer to the UniMAC South Legon campus.
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