Kwaku Ofori Asiamah
Over the last couple of years, Ghana has lost almost 10 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) through road accidents, the Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, has revealed.
Statistics from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) indicate that road traffic accidents cost West African nation 1.6 per cent of GDP annually, which translates into about US$165million annually.
This means that over the six years, Ghana has lost 9.6 per cent of its GDP which runs into about US$990million into solving road-traffic injuries and related matters.
This amount of money, according to the Transport Minister, is so huge that it could have been saved to finance some projects in other sectors of the economy.
Addressing stakeholders at the launch of this year’s national road safety campaign dubbed ‘Arrive Alive’ or ‘Kodru Dwodwoo’ and commissioning of a DVLA office as well as the launch of quality transport services at an event in Takoradi in the Western Region on Thursday, October 1, 2020, Mr. Asiamah called for collaboration in the fight against road accidents in the country.
“When you look at the statistics on how we are losing out – the GDP that we lose through accidents, it is almost 10 per cent, why? And most of these accidents could have been avoided if we had exercised a little bit of patience.(sic) So, please car owners, drivers, let us drive well and take our passengers to their various destinations safely,” he noted.
According to the minister, more women are losing their husbands through road accidents, a situation he noted ought to be averted immediately.
“Out of 100 road accidents, you will get only two to be women drivers. The remaining 98 are men because women are so patient when they are driving. It is hard to see a woman drunk and driving. When you drink and drive, you will perish on the road. So, please, let us be careful when we hit the road,” he advised.
He added, “A lot of women are losing their husbands as a result of road accidents. Now, we have a few men around and so I will plead with you guys to be cautious on the road so that you will continue to live, marry the women and take good care of them for the country to benefit from you. But if you drive carelessly and get involved in accident and don’t return home, the women will no longer get men to marry for them to start producing children.”
‘Arrive Alive’ Comes Alive
The Arrive Alive’ or ‘Kodru Dwodwoo’ road safety campaign is an ambitious project that seeks to caution road users about the need to observe all road safety measures while on the road.
The Director General of NRSA, Ing. May Obiri-Yeboah, said statistics about carnage on the country’s road paint a gloomy picture, urging all to lend a hand in turning things around.