Accra road medians evaluated for environmental and engineering benefits

Urban road medians in Accra, such as those along the Pokuase-Ablekuma Highway, are being evaluated for their diverse roles in city management. While some medians feature vegetation, others are used for trading or have become dumping sites.

Benjamin Nsiah, Executive Director for the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy, highlights that vegetated medians can sequester carbon from vehicle emissions and help reduce national electricity demand by cooling urban environments.

Civil engineer Kwabena Bempong notes that medians serve critical engineering functions, including separating dual carriageways, providing pedestrian refuges, and housing utilities like streetlights. He emphasizes that the environmental and safety benefits, such as reducing headlamp glare and managing rainfall, depend on proper design and maintenance.