Some of the committee members
The Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), Abdul-Mumin Issah has stressed the importance of road safety to the assembly’s day-to-day affairs.
He noted that the assembly over the years has been working with all the relevant actors in the road and transport sector to ensure the safety of motorists in the metropolis.
The Mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi stated this during the inauguration of the Sekondi-Takoradi Road Safety Committee in Sekondi.
According to him, the National Road Safety Authority Act, 2019 (Act 993) mandates the regional offices of the Authority to collaborate with the Road Safety Unit of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to establish road safety committees at the district levels.
He pointed out that it was in line with the Act that STMA has set up its Metro Road Safety Committee (MRSC) to not only engage in road safety campaigns ahead of events and festivities but also develop a comprehensive work plan to ensure an innocuous environment.
He enumerated the functions of the committee as providing operational direction, oversight and critical assessment of road safety initiatives and activities, promoting the mainstreaming of road safety into the MMDA’s work plans and budget.
The rest include identifying and utilising local initiatives and resources for road safety programmes and activities as well as offer the opportunity to engage and involve the communities in road safety ownership and management.
The Metropolitan Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Innocent Haligah, indicated that the team has a representation of all the necessary stakeholders, namely, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Ghana Police Service, Traditional Council and the Ghana Journalists Association.
He also mentioned the National Road Safety Authority, Urban Roads as well as some officials from the assembly. “They are to ensure that road safety is improved in the metropolis,” he noted.
He assured the committee of being resourced with the necessary gadgets to enable them execute their mandate. He reiterated the need to prepare their action plan and start work to produce positive results for the metropolis.
The Regional Head of the National Road Safety Authority, Victor Kojo Bilson, revealed that STMA needed to set the pace for other MMDAs in the region to emulate.
According to him, the first quarter of 2024 recorded 201 road accident cases. He said 158 injuries and 53 deaths were recorded.
He indicated that Oti Region was able to record zero deaths, which to him, was a result of stringent measures put in place by their Road Safety Committees.
He, therefore, expressed the hope that Western Region could record same if the committees across the region begin serious campaigns.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Sekondi