‘Do not attribute road accidents to witches’

Mr David Osafo Adonteng, the Director of Planning at the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), has debunked the attribution often made by most Ghanaians that road accidents were caused by witches or the devil.

He indicated that drivers and other road users who did not heed to road regulations were the “devils” who causes the preventable accidents on the roads.

Mr Adonteng was addressing personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), and transport unions during a seminar to educate them to ensure road safety during the yuletide.

He said the effect of accidents on the family and the nation as a whole was great, and called on all stakeholders, especially the MTTD to be on guard to ensure accident-free yuletide.

“Recalcitrant drivers think they can ‘sort’ you the police out when they flout the road laws, but do not allow yourselves to be bribed,” Mr Adonteng added.

He also called on the media to adequately inform the general public on the need to ensure road safety.

Ms Mavis Ama Frimpong, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister and Regional Road Safety Ambassador, acknowledged that deaths on roads were high due to highway robbery, and urged the police to intensify surveillance to help clamp down on robbery.

She said since Ghana used 90 percent of road transport, there was the need for stakeholders to work together to ensure safety on the roads.

Ms Ama Frimpong, however, applauded the Eastern Regional Police Command, for arresting culprits of the recent highway robbery near Bunsu, and urged them to keep up the hard work.

Some members of the transport unions in the region hailed authorities for introducing the pedestrian law, saying, most pedestrians were nonchalant about the traffic regulations which mostly resulted in avoidable pedestrian knock-downs.