About GHC151,669,160 required for safety action plan on the roads

The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) and key statutory agencies in the road sector, would require about GH¢151,669,160 to implement an action plan to ensure that Ghana becomes the safest transportation system in Africa.

The budgetary allocation for the various institutions and agencies in the transport sector are, NRSC - GH¢9,275,000, the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit of Ghana Police Service-GH¢6,039,150, Department of Urban Roads - GH¢2,201,150 and Department of Feeder Roads -GH¢70,609,100.

The rest are Ghana Highway Authority -GH¢57,155,000, Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)-GH¢4,757,260, Ghana Red Cross Society-GH¢378,500, and National Ambulance Service - GH¢1,254,000.

Mr Rudolph Beckley, Deputy Director of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of NRSC made this known during the signing of the action plan by stakeholders in Accra.

He noted that the action plan could only be implemented through effective stakeholder engagement, hence the need for budgetary allocation to achieve targets drafted in the plan.

Mr Beckley said, the National Road Safety Strategy (NRSS) III, would promote safe use of public transport, implement an integrated speed management programme, ensure safe use of vehicles, promote greater responsibility and sense of urgency from stakeholders, and develop knowledge, skill and behaviour of road users.

He pointed out that the strategy would enhance the safety of road users especially pedestrians, cyclists, children, physically challenged persons and provide a broad framework for the management of road safety.

"In order to collectively achieve targets drafted in the plan, key stakeholders would need the required budgetary allocation, therefore, government should support the plan by making available these requirements to ensure smooth implementation of the strategy," stressed.

Mr Beckley announced that a Process Consulting Approach would be adopted to monitor and evaluate NRSS III, to ensure active involvement of stakeholders during the design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation process of the strategy.

Mr Justice Morkporkpor Yao Amegashie, Chief Executive Officer of DVLA, said in accordance with the United Nations Global Plan for the Decade of Action of Road Safety 2011 – 2020, the DVLA would institute new measures to ensure that carnage on the roads are reduced.

He explained that DVLA would soon institute measures such as probation licence test to ensure that qualified drivers are issued with licence.

Mr Amegashie called on signatory stakeholders to collectively assist each other to help achieve the proposed targets.**