Kwaku Ofori Asiamah
The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah was in parliament yesterday to explain to parliamentarians why the government suspended the towing of disabled and abandoned vehicles on the country’s highways that would have been implemented by the National Road Safety Commission at a cost to vehicle owners.
The Minister’s presence in parliament was necessitated by a question filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Nsawam/Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh who wanted to know why the implementation of the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L.I 2180) has been put on hold.
The Minister said Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 is still in force but it is only section 102 of the LI which deals with the towing of disabled and abandoned vehicles from the country’s road which should have come into force on July 1, 2017 that has been put on hold as a result of major public outcry over the mode of its implementation.
He pointed out that the government has realised that enough consultations were not done with stakeholders before its implementation while education on its implementation was not also adequately carried out.
He said the previous government should have implemented that aspect of the LI five years ago but signed an agreement with the Road Safety Management Services Ltd acting through the National Road Safety Commission on October 16, 2016 for the implementation to take effect on July 1, 2017.
He said the government listened to concerns of Ghanaians to suspend its implementation on July 1, this year to enable the ministry undertake more consultations with stakeholders including transport owners, Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport, the media as well as the civil society.
He indicated, for instance, that officials of the ministry met with members of the Road and Transport Committee on June 19, 2017 and they are in the process of engaging transport owners, media, civil society and other groups
The Minister disclosed that it has also tasked the Road and Transport Committee to come out with its recommendations on the implementation of Section 102 of the LI
He expressed the hope that after that extensive consultations and adequate education on its implementation, road users will come to appreciate the need for the implementation of the section 102 of the Road Traffic Regulation which will help reduce accidents on the road
By Thomas Fosu Jnr