GPRTU happy about motor court

Accra, Jan.11, GNA - The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) on Thursday welcomed the re-establishment of a Motor Court set up to adjudicate motor offences in the Accra Metropolis.

Speaking to the GNA in Accra after the inauguration, Mr Stephen Okudjeto, General Secretary of GPRTU, however, called on service providers in the transport industry to effectively play their roles to curb preventable accidents on the roads.

"The establishment of the Motor Court sends signals to us that we should take a look at our mode of operations." Mr Okudjetu observed that there were numerous road projects going on in the country with few facilities such as traffic warders and lights directing motorists.

He said in some cases where road constructions were going on, there were no alternative routes provided for motorists thereby resulting in confusion and petty squabbles among motorists after one person had run into another's vehicle. "In some case there are no traffic lights at all, neither is there any Police or traffic warder directing motorists what to do and this is creating more problems for motorists", Mr Okudjetu said. He cautioned against heavy fines imposed by the court, which according to him could impose hardship on drivers thereby putting them out of job. He said the Union would step up its educational campaigns for members on road safety to avoid falling foul to the law. The Chief Justice Mr Justice George Acquah on Thursday inaugurated the Court at the premises of the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal. The first Motor Court was established in the 1970s on the premises of Trades Union Congress building in Accra but it became moribund when the Union requested for its building.