President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has indicated his government’s preparedness to reduce fatalities on the nation’s roads through a multi-faceted approach.
He expressed worry over the rising number of deaths recorded through road accident, describing it as unfortunate and unacceptable.
Speaking to the leadership of various transport unions in Kumais on the second day of his three-day tour of the Ashanti Region, the President said he has directived the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) to control indiscipline of motorists.
National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) statistics showed a decrease in road accidents in 2015 but an increase in 2016.
“Compared to the situation in the same period in the year 2014, there were reductions in cases reported and vehicles involved in road traffic crashes by 17.3% and 17.02% respectively. Again, there were reductions in the number of deaths and injuries by 12% and 19% in 2015 over that of the figures recorded in 2014,” NRSC said in a 2016 statement.
The NRSC estimate put the total number of lives lost in 2016 at 2,198 representing an increase of 5.64 compared to the figure for 2015.
The Upper West Region recorded 64 road accidents in 2015.
But the President said his government will institute an award scheme to reward transport unions whose drivers recorded the least accidents in the country.
He also promised the establishment of the National Training Academy to provide comprehensive training for drivers.
The transport unions that were in attendance included; the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council, Concerned Transport Operators, Inter-Country Transport Union, Mighty Transport Union and Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA), Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU), Commercial Drivers Association.
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