By George K. Momo
A Cross section of parents in Totota, lower Bong County are calling on the Liberia National Police (LNP) to urgently draw a crosswalk and erect traffic signs on the Totota main street to ensure the safety of school going children.
The citizen’s call was made on state radio on Thursday, October 8, 2026 following a mass meeting held on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in a town hall meeting triggered by the lack of traffic control at key crossing points used daily by students to and from school.
Spokesperson Sackie Sumo and a community leader, said one of the critical crossing points is around the EJ Yancy School area, near the police station opposite the Mopini Business Center, and another at Salala Junction.
According to him, scores of children from New Totota, Capitol Hill and Marwa Hill communities along the highway every morning and afternoon cross the road to attend schools located across the road.
He disclosed that due to adjustments made by the Ministry of Education and the lack of a full elementary and junior high school in New Totota Town, students from New Totota Public School have to cross to the other side to access education in central Totota.
He indicated that in the morning hours, children are led by their parents to cross while speeding vehicles and motorcyclists ply the route adding that the same risky situation occurs when they return home, with no traffic officer to regulate movement.
“Just morning like this, you see the kids are crossing. There is no one to direct the traffic. In the afternoon, they are coming back and they are vulnerable,” Sumo said.
The residents through their spokesperson said the situation has already led to accidents. He recounted that on October 3, 2026 in front of the Frontline Business Center on the main street, a speeding vehicle attempting to overtake another car hit a motorbike carrying a senior student, a situation that led to both the student and the motorcyclist sustaining major injuries.
“Several other instances of children being hit by speeding vehicles and motorcyclists have been reported in Totota,” he added.
The parents through Sackie Sumo are therefore making an urgent appeal to the central government, the county authorities and the Liberia National Police to deploy officers in the morning and afternoon at strategic crossing points, draw a visible crosswalk and install traffic signs indicating that students are crossing.
“Just have a crosswalk so drivers will see and know that students are crossing, or there should be a crosswalk sign to indicate that pedestrians, particularly kids, are going to school at this time,” he pleaded.
He said the presence of police officers during school hours would help control speeding and prevent accidents.