Government commits GHC335m yearly to tackle accidents

The Government of Ghana is set to implement an action plan to help curb the rising road crashes in the country.

A statement by the deputy Information Minister Perry Okudzeto on Monday stated that the Ghana Highway Authority, Department of Urban Roads and Department of Feeder Roads will be resourced with at least GHC335 million a year to provide signage and road markings for roads over a three (3) year period to help cure the menace.

The decision by government comes 24 hours after 27 persons lost their lives over the weekend in separate road accidents in parts of the country.

18 people died at Yapei-Yipala on the Tamale-Buipe highway on Sunday.

Before that, two persons had died on the spot Saturday Morning at Savelugu. In the Western Region seven people are also reported to have died in a road accident on the Tarkwa Bogoso road.

On Monday, four people also died in another accident which occurred Monday afternoon on the Kintampo-Tamale road in the Brong-Ahafo region.

Below is the full release

PRESS RELEASE ACTION PLAN TO DEAL WITH ROAD ACCIDENTS

Following the upsurge in road accidents, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo setup a three-man committee comprising the ministers of Interior, Transport and Roads to develop a plan to help cure the menace.

The President after receiving and reviewing the committee’s report has granted report has granted Executive approval for its immediate implementation.

Contained in the report are three key areas of action, these are,

Education: Resource the National Road Safety Commission to scale up public education and sensitization on road safety with an additional GHC 6.5 million from the Road Fund.

Enforcement: (a) Enforcement of Road Traffic Laws by the Police through spot fines by automation of MTTD operations. (b) Partner with private towing companies and Nationwide Traffic Management and Enforcement Limited (NTMEL) to vigorously enforce regulations.

Engineering: Resource the Ghana Highway Authority, Department of Urban Roads and Department of Feeder Roads with at least GHC 335 million a year to provide signage and road markings for roads over a three (3) year period.

At a meeting held today, the committee tasked the Ghana Police Service, Road Safety Commission and other road sector agencies to immediately commence the enforcement of the action plan as approved by the President.

The public is hereby admonished to cooperate with the implementing agencies.