FTC Needed for Traffic Offenders

The Minister of Defence, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor who is the acting Minister of Interior has called for a fast track court system to prosecute traffic offenders. He has also entreated the police administration to come out with measures to mitigate careless and reckless driving.

"The general indiscipline and carnage on our roads have to be checked," he told Regional Police Commanders at a conference last Friday.

Dr. Addo-Kufuor said statistics indicate that in the year 2001, 1,212 lives were lost out of 11,853 road accidents that occurred in the country. From January to June this year, 556 lives have been lost out of 5,912 road accidents.

The Minister said in order to curb the spate of highway robberies and vehicular accidents a team of joint Police/Military patrol have been detailed on certain highways in the country.

The highway patrol team is tasked to check over-speeding, drunkenness, over-loading and highway robberies and related offences.

Dr. Addo-Kufuor said much as the government is determined to build a formidable Police Service the onus lies on them to change their style of policing and to be fair and firm to all manner of persons. He called on them to improve upon their relationship with the public which should be based on trust and mutual respect.

"The government is committed to the rule of law and the promotion of peace and stability, therefore as officers in leadership positions much would depend on how you and your subordinates work toward the achievements of these objectives," he said.

He announced that the government would soon begin renovation and expansion works at the Police Hospital, which will provide an extra 106 bed capacity, new mortuary, new OPD block, two dental units and a new theatre block. Other facilities will include, four paediatric consulting rooms, new dispensary and an accident and emergency centre.

The conference is the first to be convened since the present Police Administration assumed command of the Ghana Police Service. Participants deliberated on the present crime situation and the general indiscipline in the country to come out with appropriate solutions.