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Campaign against road indiscipline
launched
Accra, Oct. 17, Ghanadot/GNA - The 2007 International Road
Transport Action Week Campaign began in Accra on Tuesday
with a call on road users, especially drivers, to strictly
comply with traffic and motor regulations to reduce
indiscipline and carnage on roads.
Mr Magnus Opare Asamoah, Deputy Minister of Transportation
said increase in road construction and rehabilitation
demonstrated government's commitment to make the transport
sector safe, reliable and efficient for Ghana to serve as a
corridor for the sub-region.
He stated that Government was also not happy with the
increasing carnage on the roads, and had therefore adopted a
National Road Safety Strategy to reduce the accident rates
from 22 per cent to a single digit by 2010.
He noted that the strategy would involve education as a key
tool to improve driver and vehicle integrity and minimize
over speeding, overloading, reckless driving and other
negative attitudes that made roads unsafe.
He said to attain the single digit, the Motor and Traffic
Unit has been provided with some equipment to enable it play
its enforcement role well.
Mr Opare Asamoah also expressed disappointment on undue
delays; extortion and other negative attitudes of security
officers on the country's borders saying these attitudes
were contrary to ECOWAS protocols.
He stated that the ECOWAS protocols enjoined all member
countries to ensure free movement of people and goods,
adding that it was in respect of these protocols that the
Abidjan-Lagos Facilitation Programme was launched in Accra
in September to address such problems that militated against
smooth transportation along the corridors.
Touching on HIV/AIDS, the Deputy Minister said due to the
nature of the work of drivers, there was the need to
intensify HIV/AIDS education for them since many drivers who
plied along the borders, especially along Ghana Abidjan were
exposed to risks of the pandemic.
Mr David Adonteng, Deputy Director, Research, Monitoring and
Evaluation, National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) said
human error remained the highest contributory factor of most
accidents.
He said to this effect, the NRSC through its National Road
Safety Strategy would soon establish a national driving
school to formally provide training to drivers to increase
their professionalism.
He said the Commission would also establish a national call
centre where individuals could call on a toll free service
to give out information and seek assistance in case of any
emergency.
Mr Adonteng also hinted that the Commission would install
automatic speed cameras to monitor vehicles and pass a
legislative instrument to ensure that drivers who used
mobile phones whiles driving and those who refused to put on
their seat belts would be brought to book.
He said the Commission would continue to work hard to
minimize all indiscipline.
Mr Emmanuel A. Mensah, Coordinating Secretary, International
Transport Workers Federation (ITF) said the campaign under
the theme: "Organising Globally" Building Union Power,
Correcting Indiscipline On Our Roads, Eradicating the
Carnage On Our Roads, Addressing Undue Delays at the
Frontiers And Fighting the HIV/AIDS Pandemic" has brought
together stakeholders to discuss ways to ensure effective
transport system.
He said bringing commercial drivers; especially floating
drivers under a union had become an essential component for
the regulation of the road transport industry and ensuring
compliance with traffic and motor regulations.
He expressed regret that some drivers deliberately ignored
the training received hence causing huge investment loss to
transport companies, owners and individuals.
Mr Mensah urged transport owners to improve conditions of
service of transport workers to ensure job satisfaction and
prevent them from overworking to sustain their livelihood.
He also called on Parliament to expedite action on the
passage of the Transport Policy Bill that would serve as a
guide for stakeholders.
The Coordinating Secretary also stressed the need to address
undue delays and extortion by some security officers, adding
that it was not encouraging to spend over four dollars for
bribes on the borders as investigations has shown.
Mr Paa Cofie Fynn, Greater Accra Regional Manager, Intercity
STC Coaches Limited said it was unfortunate that all
attempts to reduce indiscipline on roads have failed and the
country continued to be one out of 10 countries that record
high accident rates.
He urged transport owners to employ at least two drivers on
board of vehicles, which travelled long distances to reduce
driver fatigue identified as a major cause of accidents.
Mr. Adjei Sefa, Managing Director, Intercity STC said good
transport system was a prerequisite for economic growth and
poverty reduction, thus there was the need for a change in
any country's transport system to meet global demands.
He said time, distance, reliability and security were
therefore important components of a transport system, adding
that this was why Intercity STC management and staff through
unity was providing quality transport service to link Ghana
and national capitals in the sub-region.
GNA
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