By Hannah-Vic Adzraku &Yaw Bretwum Brefo
Primarily, road medians serve the purpose of streamlining traffic flow, and in some cases, preventing head-on collisions between vehicles moving in opposite directions.
Unfortunately, many road medians in Ghana have accumulated mounds of sand that spill into good-looking roads, some are known for huge amounts of trash collected, while others are filled with unkempt bushes and dying trees and shrubs. The question is, why does this happen?
Is the Assemblies facing so much financial constraint that it cannot manage these road medians? Is the regular Ghanaian so dirty that he rather dumps refuse along the roadside than to properly dispose of it in bins provided by the Assemblies? Poorly managed road medians result in inefficiencies in urban management.
A coordinated partnership framework will drive efficiency, create jobs, enhance city aesthetics, and contribute to national growth, positioning Ghana as a cleaner, safer, and more organized nation. This article looks at why poor landscape management of road medians causes daily headaches; it does not consider who is necessarily responsible but rather, how advertisers, community stakeholders, and Assemblies can partner to turn road medians into tidy, safe green strips that lift our urban look.
The Overwhelming Duty of Road Median Landscape Management
Thinking about it, maintaining these road medians sounds simple at first, for instance, just mowing grass or picking up junk. In reality, the roles of resource mobilization, infrastructural development, human settlement management, social development, etc., accompanied by managing public areas, can truly be overwhelming.
It is a lot of work, and also capital and time intensive. Aside from the above monitoring challenges, road median management comes with unforeseen cost variables. A typical example is the cost of labor for harvesting soil deposits on road edges, slashing overgrown weeds, and in some cases, lawn maintenance.
Maintenance costs become even more crucial when professionals are involved to deliver exquisite service delivery that comes with well-edged lawn, fertilization, watering, and pest control. Hence, the role of keeping road median lawns lush green, road and curb crevices free from weeds and sand, repainting road curbs and road demarcations, replacement of damaged streetlights, and removal of broken road fixtures should not be the sole responsibility of the Assemblies. With vandalism and theft happening without anyone noticing right away, so even after cleanup, things can fall apart within the blink of an eye.
As simple as the role of keeping road medians neat may look, it is accompanied by several limitations, such as the inability of road median custodians to closely monitor real-time challenges on site, such as theft, vandalism, accidents, etc. For Assemblies to manage road medians alone feels unrealistic, especially with tight budgets. I think this is where bringing in private groups could make a significant difference.
The Case for Public-Private Partnership (PPP)
A well-structured partnership between the public and private sectors is no longer optional—it is essential for national development. Assemblies must urgently step into a stronger coordinating role by setting clear regulations, enforcing standards, and ensuring consistent monitoring. At the same time, professional landscaping companies should be empowered to take full responsibility for maintenance operations.
Their technical expertise in lawn care, curb painting, tree management, and scheduled upkeep ensures that road medians are not only maintained but maintained to a high and consistent standard across the country.
It is expedient that financially capable private businesses seeking visibility and brand presence along roads shall be involved. However, for this model to deliver results, a strong coordination between stakeholders, with clear monitoring, reporting, and accountability systems must be put in place.
Summary
Assemblies should lead proactively in engaging individuals, companies, churches, and organizations, and by maintaining a formal database of landscaper professionals in each A1ssembly jurisdiction.
Apart from establishing a database, Assemblies should develop a system to assess and determine capable landscaping or private companies for advertising on road medians, based on technical know-how, reputation, and capability in delivering their services despite the financial pressure.
A systematic cooperation between Assemblies, landscape professionals and private advertisers are essential. When implemented successfully, this approach will ensure effective service delivery, creation of beauty in the city, economic gains, and eventually contribute to the development of Ghana.
Hannah is a Senior Lecturer – KNUST and Landscape Management Consultant and Yaw is a Landscape Management Consultant) 0208134252 / 0244634569
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