70% of vehicles are not roadworthy

About 70% of vehicles on Ghana's road don't meet safe standards, according to Mr Samuel Oppong, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Vehicle Inspection and Technical Organisation (VITO), a private entity licensed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to check the road worthiness of vehicles.

Mr Oppong says this has led to many road crashes recorded across the country.

The purpose of VITO is to inspect and test vehicles to ensure that they were roadworthy to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers.

The inspection process includes identification, payment for test, registry, visual and automated testing, printing and certification and road worthy certificate.

The visual test includes the windscreen, tyre, wipers, wheel knots and bolts, seat belt, number plates and seats while the automated test includes emission test, alignment, shock absorbers, front, and rear brakes test and the lighting system.

Mr Samuel Oppong, President and Chief Executive Officer of VITO said the organisation, which started operations 18 months ago, had so far tested about 48,000 vehicles which include private and government.

He said the testing had drastically reduced road crashes since the organisation did not compromise on standards.

Mr Oppong said the organisation had also reduced the congestion and eased the pressure on the DVLA office at the 37 Military Hospital area, where vehicles were tested and licensed.

He noted that there was the need for 10 of such facilities in Accra and its environs, adding that only four were currently operational.

VITO is awaiting approval to establish a branch in Kumasi from the Ministry of Roads and hope to extend its operations to other regions.

Mr Oppong appealed to Government to encourage the opening of more of such facilities through Public Private Partnership which is key for economic development.