GPRTU takes measures to reduce accidents

Accra, April 13, GNA - The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) on Thursday cautioned drivers to adhere to basic road safety regulations to reduce road accidents during the Easter festivities. Mr Aikins Agamah, GPRTU Ho Branch Disciplinary Officer, in Accra said drivers had been warned not to use mobile phones and not drink alcoholic beverages and to avoid unnecessary overtaking and speeding. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on the eve of Easter, Mr Agamah, attributed most accidents to carelessness of drivers, as well as lack of regular maintenance of their vehicles.

"As part of the preventive measures adopted by the branch, the station manager would inspect all vehicles before they were allowed to load," he said.

Most lorry stations visited by GNA within the metropolis were virtually empty, buses waiting for passengers. "Festive periods are our cash seasons but unfortunately for us, this Easter is dry, people are not travelling; may be due to the fact that it's the middle of the month and most workers have not received their salaries", an leading member of one of the unions told the GNA. Others also held that the number of people travelling this Easter season reduced considerably because there is no money in the system. The situation at the Accra-Koforiduah station was not different as Mr Emmanual Kwakye, the Chairman of the Branch said because the number of Koforidua stations in Accra had increased passengers preferred to board buses at the stations nearest them.

"The situation is always the same whether Easter or no Easter there are no passengers and since morning only three buses have left the station to Koforidua" he said.

However, when GNA got to the Kpando-Accra lorry station in Accra there were a lot of passengers in a queue waiting to be conveyed to their various destinations.

Mr Charles Doe, Secretary of Accra-Kpando Branch of the GPRTU, said as at 1400 hours about 10 buses had left for Kpando, and hoped that by the end of the day more buses would leave. He attributed this to the fact that, fares were not increased even though there was increment in fuel prices some weeks ago. Mr Doe said drivers plying the route had been well educated to be careful on the road.

Ms Celestina Aryee, a bread seller at Tema lorry station in Accra said there was no money and therefore patronage of bread had been low. "I am expecting that sales would be better", she added.