Students of the University of Media, Arts and Communication – Institute of Journalism (UNIMAC-IJ) on *Friday, 23 January, held a candlelight vigil in memory of their colleague, **Nelson Blay Nokotey, a Level 300 Journalism student who was killed after being struck by a vehicle on the *George Walker Bush Highway (N1).
Nelson was fatally hit on *19 January 2026, at about **4:00 pm, near the **Dzorwulu traffic light intersection, close to the university’s *South Legon campus, while attempting to cross the highway after leaving lectures. The vehicle involved was reportedly unregistered, and the driver is said to have fled the scene.
The tragedy has reignited long-standing concerns about pedestrian safety along the high-speed corridor, which is frequently used by students and residents accessing transport and nearby communities.
During the vigil, students marched in silence with candles and placards, renewing calls for the construction of a pedestrian footbridge near the South Legon campus. They described the stretch of the N1 as a dangerous crossing point that exposes pedestrians to fast-moving traffic on a daily basis.
Speaking on behalf of the students, Helen Porsoo appealed to authorities to take urgent action, stressing that the death of their colleague should not be in vain.
The Dean of Students at UNIMAC-IJ, who addressed the gathering, urged students to remain calm while seeking justice.
“Our anger should be directed towards the driver who carelessly knocked down and killed Nelson, and we must pray that justice is served,” the Dean said.
Following the incident, the *Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, *John Setor Dumelo, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and to the university community, pledging to prioritise student safety in the constituency.
In a statement posted on X on Saturday, 24 January 2026, Mr Dumelo described the incident as a reminder of the urgent need to improve safety infrastructure along the N1. He said protecting students and residents remained a key priority and committed to pushing for immediate measures to prevent similar tragedies.
The MP linked the incident to his broader road safety and infrastructure agenda, noting that gaps in pedestrian protection along the highway must be addressed without delay.
The Dzorwulu–Lapaz section of the N1 is known for high vehicle speeds, with reports of some motorists exceeding the *70km/h speed limit. Students at the UniMAC-IJ South Legon campus frequently cross the highway on foot, as the nearest designated pedestrian crossing requires a detour of nearly *400 metres.
University authorities have assured students of their support and confirmed that they are cooperating with security agencies as investigations into the incident continue.
Mr Dumelo said he stood with the university community during the period of mourning and reiterated his commitment to ensuring that meaningful steps are taken to improve road safety in the area.
