Prevention of road accident is a shared responsibility

Accra, Sept 24, GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Garbah, a former Deputy Commissioner of Police in Charge of Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), on Saturday said the prevention of road accidents is a shared responsibility.

He therefore appealed to communities to consider it a civic responsibility to notify the relevant authorities of dangerous situations and hazardous locations.

"Whenever traffic lights go off, the branch of a tree blocks the view of motorists, vehicles are disabled on the road and any other dangerous driving practices that endangers other road users, people must wake up and notify the authorities,'' he said at a durbar and a clean up exercise.

The former MTTU chief, who is now the Greater Accra Road Safety Co-ordinator, appealed to civil society groups, religious leaders, opinion leaders and the public to expose people suffering from diseases such as uncontrolled epilepsy and others that make them unfit to drive commercial vehicles, unlicensed drivers, drunkards and drug addicts who drive.

The function was organised by the Accra Newtown Evangelical Presbyterian (Bethel) Church on the theme, "Salvation is fullness of life and growth cleaner fest, road safety campaign and community durbar," as part of activities to commemorate its Golden Jubilee celebrations.

He called for collaboration between road safety practitioners and other stakeholders to deal with the increasing problem of road accident and the high level of injuries.

He schooled the community on safe places to cross, how to protect kids, the new road user law and other safety tips Ms Anne Michael, Nursing Officer of the Maamobi Polyclinic who spoke on, "The Environment and Your Health," condemned irresponsible behaviour that has negative impact on the environment. She said the depleting of the forest, dumping of solid waste in rivers, lakes and streams, pollution of water bodies, building haphazardly, destruction of the echo systems have contributed to the poor health system in the country. Ms Michael called for intensification of health campaigns, avoid cooking and selling of uncovered food, selling of cooked food by open gutters and close to dustbins.

Rev O. K. Klu, the E. P. (Bethel) Church District Pastor, appealed to the city authorities to put zebra crossings on the on the Accra Newtown to Pig Farm road.