The Department of Physics at the College of Science, KNUST has partnered with the Oforikrom Municipal Assembly to repair the traffic lights at the busy Poku Transport Junction in Kumasi, which has been non-functional for more than five years.

The initiative follows a request by the Municipal Chief Executive, Anwell Sadat, who reached out to the department after assuming office to seek technical support in restoring the malfunctioning traffic signal.

The repair work is being led by a team of researchers from the Department of Physics, including Prof. Reuben Tamakloe, Prof. Isaac Nkrumah and Dr. Michael Kweku Edem Donkor, together with postgraduate research students.

The department previously fabricated and installed solar-powered traffic lights at three locations on the KNUST campus, demonstrating the feasibility of the technology in improving traffic management.

As part of the project, the team will repair and replace key components of the traffic light system and convert it from reliance on the national electricity grid to solar power, ensuring continuous operation even during power outages.

The collaboration highlights how university research and technical expertise can be applied to address practical challenges in surrounding communities.

Once completed, the restored traffic light is expected to improve road safety and traffic flow at the busy junction, which serves commuters and transport operators within the Oforikrom Municipality and surrounding areas.