MTTU commander reacts to GNA story

Takoradi, Oct 05, GNA - Mr Adusah Poku, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, has denied a portion of a GNA report that quoted him as having advised policemen to stop collecting drivers' licenses.

He said the advise was meant for employers and transport officers of some organisations who keep the originals of their drivers' licenses and issue them the photocopies of the licenses as a means to locate their drivers in case of accidents.

Mr Adusah Poku, who is the Western Regional Commander of the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU), said the license was the authority of the driver to handle a vehicle and any officer of the police could collect it when a driver commits an offence.

He asked employers to find appropriate means of locating their drivers after an accident instead of holding on to their license. The Regional MTTU chief was speaking on the new Road Safety Act 683 at a forum at Takoradi on Friday organised by the Western Regional Police Administration.

DSP Poku said the police MTTU would no longer accept photocopies of licenses presented by drivers and cautioned that any driver without a license would be prosecuted.

The Western Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police Kofi D. Arthur said between January and August, 205 accidents were recorded.

Out of the figure, 25 persons died while 184 others sustained injuries. A total of 314 vehicles were involved in the accidents. Mr Bismark T. Boakye, the Western and Central Regional Officer of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) said 15 per cent of road accidents involved big trucks while mini buses accounted for 35 per cent.

Out of the figure, fatigue accounted for almost eight percent and appealed to ve hicle owners to provide spare drivers for long distance journeys.

Mr Boakye said the NRSC would organise training for big truck drivers and that a consultant would soon arrive in the country to provide seat belts for vehicles that do not have one. Mr Vincent Fiatsi, Regional Director of the Vehicle Examination and Licensing Division (VELD), said the lack of regular proficiency test had accounted for many accidents.

He said by 2008, drivers would be required to possess a minimum educational qualification before they are issued with driving licenses.