Ashaiman MTTU police scared to check drivers

Tema, June 17, GNA -- Two weeks after the clash between the Ashaiman Police and Commercial drivers over traffic offences, personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) in the municipality are scared to enforce traffic and motor regulations due to threat of death issued to them by some unidentified drivers.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ransford Ninson, Deputy Tema Regional Police Commander on Tuesday said at Tema that the drivers, in a handwritten letter have threatened to kill five police officers,. Speaking at a stakeholders meeting between the Tema Regional Command and the executives of the various Ashaiman transport unions, he said the threat has created fear among the personnel who have withdrawn from checking activities of the drivers in the municipality. The meeting was organized by the Command to enable the stakeholders to air their grievances and suggestions to improve upon the frosty relationship between the police and the drivers. Commercial drivers on June 3 demanded the release of four of their colleagues, who had been arrested by the police for parking at an unauthorized place at the roadside thus causing traffic jams instead of a parking lot provided for them.

In the ensuing encounter, the drivers were joined by a mob which besieged the Ashaiman Police station and caused mayhem by throwing stones, sticks and other missiles which was responded by the firing of bullets by the police, resulting in the death of Moses Kassim, 11-old pupil of Ashaiman Governmnet School and Moses Ofori, 22 a driver. He noted that law and order would break down in the municipality should the police refuse to enforce the country's laws. He therefore, called on the police personnel to ignore the threat and fulfil their responsibilities to the State.

The Deputy Tema Commander further urged the police to collect particulars of drivers who commit traffic offences and book them for court at a later date instead of locking them up in cells. He explained that apart from congesting the cells, it was inappropriate to detain offenders of minor crimes such as traffic and motor offences. ACP Ninson also appealed to the executives of the unions to educate their members on the laws governing their sector and to cooperate with the police in ensuring the safety of passengers and other road users. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) John Kudalor, Tema Regional Police Commander opening the meeting advised the Ashaiman police not to shirk their responsibilities with the excuse of waiting till the problem between the Service and the drivers was fully solved. DCOP Kudalor further said it was unacceptable for society to suffer due to misunderstanding between drivers and the police stressing that, it was the duty of the police to maintain a peaceful environment for all workers in the country.

Encouraging the unions to create a cordial relationship between them and the Command, he urged the union executives to contact the Regional MTTU Commander and himself with their complaints should the local police fail them.

On the issue of the interdiction of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Timothy Dassah, Ashaiman MTTU Commander and others, the Regional Commander said those interdicted were expected to explain why the arrested drivers were locked up in cell even though minor offences do not merit detention. Mr Albert Boakye Otchere, Ashaiman Municipal Chief Executive on his part said the incident should serve as a lesson for stakeholders in the transport sector in order to formulate measures aimed at preventing a recurrence in other parts of the country. Stating measures the Assembly was initiating to decongest the streets, Mr Otchere said his outfit would in the near future clamp vehicles that parked on the road as well as emboss vehicles that ply the municipality. Mr Francis Gorni, Vice Chairman of the Ashaiman branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Unit (GPRTU) called for proper enforcement of traffic regulations, stating that floating drivers were more to blame for the congestion on the roads. Other executive members of the transport unions expressed their appreciation to the Commander for the opportunity and suggested that drivers of tipper trucks, harbour trucks and other vehicles should be included in such stakeholders meeting.