Ban drunken drivers for life - Omanhene

Winneba (C/R), April 2, GNA - The Omanhene of the Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyin Ghartey VII has called for the promulgation of a law that will ban for life commercial drivers caught drunk while driving , after serving their prison sentences. This Nedenyi Ghartey said will go a long way to inject a high sense of discipline in the driving profession and eventually curb rampant fatal motor accidents on the roads.

Neenyi Ghartey who is also the President of the Effutu Traditional Council, was commenting on the recent carnage on the country's road in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Winneba. He said that the spate of fatal motor accidents the nation had been experiencing in recent times urgently call for the initiation of hasher measures to save precious lives and properties of innocent travellers. Neenyi Ghartey appealled to philanthropists and Non-Governmental Organisations operating in the country, as well as the various religious organizations to donate medical equipment and other logistics to the Winneba Municipal Hospital to assist in handling emergency health challenges.

He said the call for such assistance had become necessary following a series of fatal motor accidents that had been occurring on the Apam, Winneba-Junction-Accra road.

He urged government to expedite action on the construction works on the new bigger hospital for Winneba.

Neenyi Ghartey said that the strategic positioning of the town really calls for the provision of a bigger hospital fully equipped with all the necessary modern medical facilities, including a special and bigger emergency unit to handle major health challenges citing the distance from Winneba to Accra as quite long to transfer certain emergencies like the recent burnt accident victims to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for prompt medical attention. He cautioned all road users, especially commercial drivers to be extra careful and also refrain from using alcohol as a stimulant for their commercial business.

The Omanhene emphasized the need for the police and other key players in the transport industry to cooperate with the government in its efforts at securing a better solution to the numerous challenges confronting the driving profession, particularly the commercial transport sector. Neenyi Ghartey expressed his appreciation to President John Evans Atta Mills and his Vice, John Dramani Mahama, the sector Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa-Yankey, Mr Mike Hammah, Minister of Transport and the Central Minister, Madam Ama Benyiwa-Doe for "their much needed inspirational roles they played during the recent devastating motor accidents which happened in the area within a couple of weeks ago." He also extended similar appreciation to doctors, nurses, paramedical officers on their immense assistance to the victims of the gas tanker accident which claimed over 16 lives.