Court grants one-legged driver GH¢120 bail

A Motor Court in Accra on Monday granted a 48-year-old amputee driver, Hudu Abdulai, GH¢120 bail with two sureties to re-appear on March 10, 2011.

Abdulai pleaded guilty to three counts of driving without a licence, failing to comply with construction and use of basic requirement of vehicle and failing to paint the particulars of owner on the vehicle as required by regulation.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Victor K. Ahiabor, told the court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Bart Plange Brew, that the Police on February 4, 2011, had a tip off that the accused, who is a transport owner, driver and a mechanic at Agbogbloshie in Accra, was driving an Albion Cargo Truck with registration number GT 3398 H around the South Industrial Area.

He said the accused was arrested in the afternoon with the vehicle at a spot near Beyeeman traffic light intersection whilst on his way towards Agbogbloshie loaded with refuse.

Chief Inspector Ahiabor said the accused during interrogation confessed not having a driving license and due to his incapacitation, altered and adjusted the clutch and gearing system of the vehicle to suit his status.

The prosecutor said with the alteration, the vehicle which was originally manual now operated as an automatic with which the accused used for refuse collection.

Mr Amoah Larbi, Counsel for the accused, told the court that his client was a first offender and should be considered for using the vehicle to ensure environmental cleanliness.

However, the accused told the court that due to his deformity, he had been denied access to licence to operate and had no option than to drive to earn a living to take care of his two wives and nine children.

He said he had driven the vehicle for 23 years without any accident until personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service arrested him on Friday, February 4.

The accused said he was involved in a motor accident in 1979 at Tamale in the Northern Region where his left leg was amputated.

Mr Brew, after hearing the facts and explanation from the accused, ordered that the vehicle be taken to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to check whether it was road worthy and if he could be assisted to use his deformity to help the nation instead of engaging in armed robbery.

He advised that the accused needed to be given a driving licence if the vehicle was road worthy and the State needed to consider helping the physically challenged to contribute their quota to national development.

“The accused is commended for his efforts,” Mr Brew added.