Bagbin appeals to Highways to dismantle all illegal speed ramps in Upper West

Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minister of Health, has appealed to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and the Department of Feeder Roads to dismantle all illegal speed ramps in the Upper West Region to avoid further accidents.

The erection of illegal speed ramps has become a common practice in most communities in the Region and the ramps are contributing to motor accidents.

Mr. Bagbin made the appeal after a presentation of accident statistics by the Jirapa District Director of Health Services, Madam Pheobe Balagamyetine, during his tour of health facilities in the Upper West Region.

She said in 2011 a total of 180 motor accidents were recorded at health facilities in the Region and this figure has increased to 306 in six months of 2012.

Madam Balagamyetine attributed many of the accidents to the illegal speed ramps and said there were fatalities.

Mr. Bagbin said it was not prudent for the nation to continue spending a chunk of its resources on avoidable accidents and appealed to GHA and the Department of Feeder Roads to heed to the call to prevent further accidents and loss of lives.

He also appealed to the police to be strict in arresting people who ride motorbikes without helmets, saying he believed most of the fatal accidents happened because the victims were not wearing protective crash helmets.

The health minister also appealed to motorbike riders to cultivate the habit of wearing protective crash helmets and avoid unnecessary speeding to avoid accidents.