Tema, Nov 12, GNA- Very soon specific traffic offences will attract on-the-spot fines following cabinet's approval of the new policy, Dr Richard Anane, Minister for Roads and Transport, said on Wednesday. ''This and other measures will go a long way to regulate the use of vehicles on the roads to minimize the incidence of indiscipline and make road travel safer and less frightening.''
He said the ministry, in collaboration with the ministries of the Interior, Finance and Economic Planning, have initiated proposals for the enactment of a new Road and Traffic Regulation.
Dr Anane said this in a speech read for him at the opening of an eight-day seminar organised by the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Council (GRCC) for stakeholders in the transport industry. Participants are transport owners, freight operators, vehicle managers, drivers and instructors in the transport industry with resource persons from the TRANSAID, experts in the transport industry from the United Kingdom.
Topics at the training of trainers programme include traffic and road safety in Ghana, driver licensing and regulations, driver instructor training, theory/ practice and participatory learning.
It is aimed improving driver training and institutional capacity building which in turn will reduce accidents, improve efficiency and promote best practice in the transport industry.
The government, Dr Anane said, is concerned about the spate of road accidents and to stem the tide the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) is implementing its axle load control policy.
About 26 weighing bridges will be installed nation-wide and advised freight operators and truck drivers to respect the axle load limits in their own interest.
Mr Victor Mengot, TRANSAID Project Manager, said accident is the third biggest killer in Africa so the company has stepped up its education campaign.
Mr Kojo Adom Moses, chairman of GRTCC appealed to the government to waive payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) by commercial vehicles while transport operators be made to pay quarterly vehicle income tax instead of seven-and-half retention payment
Nii Adjei Krakue 11, chief of Tema, urged the participants to be role models to the entire staff in the transport industry.
