A Ghanaian soldier is embarking on a 250-kilometre one-day endurance cycling from Accra to Kumasi to advocate for the safety of cyclists in Ghana.
Captain Festus Yeboah Asuamah, a cyclist himself believes covering the distance in a day is critical to promoting sustainable cycling in Ghana.
“This ride is more than just a test of endurance; it’s a call for safer roads for all.”
The endurance exercise that starts from Accra and ends in Kumasi is meant to raise awareness on how cyclists are disrespected by motorists and road users resulting in many avoidable accidents.
According to Captain Asuamah, the initiative inspired by Akpene Adzo Ahadzie, a sixth-year Master of Architecture student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), will also honour her memory.
Ms Adzo Ahadzie met her untimely death when she was hit by a vehicle while she was riding her bicycle in a residential area on KNUST campus last year.
The sad incident raised many questions about road users, especially motorists and the deliberate disregard for cyclists.
This move by the soldier also hinges on the important call by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that cyclists safety should be at the heart of the road transport and land use framework.
Captain Asuamah is therefore calling on all Ghanaians especially cyclists, to rally behind him on this mission, to spread awareness, and push for better infrastructure and policies that protect cyclists in Ghana.