Dr. George Akuffo Dampare addressing the drivers
The Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, yesterday engaged commercial drivers in Accra on how to stem accidents on the country’s highways.
During the engagement, Adakabre Frimpong Manso, General Manager of VIP Transport Services asked for the introduction of the road tow levy which according to him would go a long way in reducing the number of accidents on the highways.
Explaining, he said that with such intervention broken down vehicles, the cause of some of the accidents, would be quickly towed away and thus obviate carnages on the roads.
Most of the accidents on our roads, he went on, were caused by abandoned broken down vehicles.
The move to implement a law that imposes a mandatory levy on all owners and persons in charge of motor vehicles, for the purpose of towing broken down or disabled vehicles on the roads was abandoned following a public uproar when the concept was put out.
But Mr. Adakabre said most of those who opposed the implementation of the levy were those who were ill-informed about the law.
“Commercial drivers are always on the highways and are at risk as a result of these broken down vehicles, and we believe that if such vehicles are removed from the roads, the carnages will reduce,” he pointed out.
The IGP was accompanied by Members of the Police Management Board during the meeting which took place at the Neoplan Station in Accra.
Some drivers also expressed concern about the activities of the foreign truck drivers on our roads.
Clement Kwesi Ampedu, Chairman of Bulk Tanker Drivers Union observed that such trucks load beyond the axle limits.
“These drivers know very well that the laws in their home countries do not permit them to do so but since we Ghanaians do not enforce our laws, they do it here and go free.
“We should also not forget that their activities are destroying our roads and what we do not know is that these drivers upon getting to the border of their countries, offload some of the goods for other vehicles to carry them before they enter their country,” he disclosed.
He urged the IGP to ensure that the axle load limit law on foreign trucks is enforced since according to him ‘they are destroying our roads’.
On the issue of poor markings and lack of street lights, Mr. Ampadu said this has resulted in some drivers increasing the number of lights in their vehicles which also pose danger to other road users.
Emmanuel Pink Dankwah, Member of Ghana Private Road Transport Union, urged the IGP to check some of his men deployed on our roads.
He said some of the police officers are more interested in extorting monies from the drivers, adding that such officers wear reflective jackets to cover their name tags.
He also urged the police administration to increase the number of barriers and patrols on the Kumasi-Sefwi, Wenchi–Wa, Walewale-Tamale, Atebubu, Donkorkrom and Yeji roads to prevent robbery attacks.
He stressed the need for government to construct dual carriage roads on our major roads from Kumasi – Tamale- Wa highway to reduce carnages on the road.
COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno assured the drivers that the current IGP was doing a lot in terms of police visibility on the major sections of our roads.
He mentioned the Yeji-Atebubu, Kwame Danso, Kwahu, Donkorkrom, Kintampo, Tamale and Bolga highways where robbery attacks are always rampant.
Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, in an address urged the drivers to also do their part to ensure that road accidents are reduced in the country.
He urged drivers to also discipline themselves on the road to avoid accident.
“We have heard your concerns and would work on ours, the onus lies on you to also do your part so that together we can reduce accidents on our roads,” he concluded.
BY Linda Tenyah-Ayettey