Ebi Bright Shows Linguistic Prowess, Warns Francophone Truck Driver in French Over Deadly Parking
- Tema Mayor Ebi Bright confronted poorly parked trucks outside the country, warning the drivers in French
- Dangerous parking practices by truck drivers remain a road safety and law and order concern on highways
- Ghana's Tema Port remains crucial for landlocked countries like Mali and Burkina Faso's import and export activities
The Mayor of Tema, Ebi Bright, took a hands-on approach to removing drivers dangerously parked on the shoulder of roads in her district.
The drivers were from Francophone West Africa and did not speak English, Ghana's national language.
Source: Facebook
But Bright, Tema's first woman mayor, showcased her linguistic prowess by surprisingly engaging them in French.
She is heard threatening a driver to move his dangerously parked trucks or risk being locked up.
The Tema Metropolitan Assembly shared the interactions in a video on Facebook.
Parked trucks on the shoulder of roads are known to cause deadly road crashes, especially at night.
In January, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly towed seven cargo trucks parked along the shoulders of the Otublohum Road near the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Water Company premises at Avenor, as part of an enforcement exercise to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow in the capital.
The trucks were removed on Monday after they were found obstructing vehicular movement and posing safety risks to road users, in violation of regulations governing roadside parking and the use of public spaces.
In a related operation, the Assembly also towed several saloon cars from Obonu Street near the Amankwaa Block Factory, where a mechanic shop was operating under a high-tension electricity line.
Why do Francophone trucks transit through Ghana?
Trucks from Francophone transit through Ghana primarily because most of them are landlocked and rely on Ghana’s seaports, particularly the Tema Port, for importing goods and exporting natural resources like cotton and minerals.
Ghana provides a vital, reliable, and relatively efficient corridor for this trade, making it a preferred destination for transit cargo in the region.
In 2021, the Ghana Shippers Authority noted that Burkina Faso emerged as the leading destination for transit cargoes cleared from Ghana’s ports in the first quarter of 2022 and 2021.
They overtook Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana's neighbour to the west, for the number one spot.
Côte d’Ivoire is now the second preferred destination, with Mali, Togo, Niger, Nigeria, Benin and Guinea making the top eight (8) destinations for cargoes cleared from Ghana’s ports.
Ebi Bright explains family privacy
YEN.com.gh reported that Bright shared insights into her personal journey, stating that marriage and family have always held utmost importance in her life.
Consequently, she chose to keep her loved ones out of the limelight, fully aware of her limitations in safeguarding them from public scrutiny and judgment.
This decision has also shaped how she presented herself publicly.
Unlike many individuals who share every aspect of their lives on social media, Bright opted for a more reserved approach, deliberately avoiding the urge to disclose personal details online.
Source: YEN.com.gh
