Road accidents decline by 4.64%

Minister of Transport Dzifa Attivor says the first half-year of 2013 has been promising with regard to road safety.

As at June 2013, 6,839 crashes were recorded leading to 1,119 deaths and 6,463 injuries -- representing a 4.64 percent reduction in the number of cases reported over the same period in 2012.

She said National Road Safety Commission will continue with implementation of the Road Safety Strategy Plan (NRSS III), which specifies programmes and activities by road safety implementing agencies in the country.

According to her, the NRSC will continue to implement the NRSS III Strategic Plan to reduce accident fatalities by 50 percent by the year 2020. She was speaking at the Ministry of Information and Media Relations meet the press in Accra.

Regarding plans to further ensure road safety in the country, she said the Ministry will establish a National Road Transport Authority to regulate the road transport services sub-sector.

In addition, she said with support from the World Bank the Ghana Transport Training Centre is constructing a 4-storey 8-unit classroom block to facilitate teaching and learning at the centre.

As well as extension of Computer Based Theory, CBT, testing of prospective drivers to other Driver and Vehicle Licence Authority (DVLA) offices across the country -- and as at the end of June CBT was operational in 22 out of 25 offices nationwide.

The CBT is expected to reduce interferences in driving test administration; reduce the faking of test results, culminating in improved credibility and validity of test results; as well as improve service delivery resulting in reduced turnaround time at the DVLA premises.

Though the sector is making progress, it still has some challenges: among them is inadequate funding to support infrastructure development in the sector; inadequate training institutions and requisite infrastructure to provide skilled personnel to enhance capacity development in the sector; encroachments and lack of titles to lands for transport infrastructure development; as well as an ageing fleet of commercial vehicles plying the roads.

Ms. Attivor said the Ministry will continue to engage the Ministry of Lands & Natural Resources to perfect title to all transport lands in order to avoid further encroachments.

She added that bilateral funds will also be sought, through the Ministry of Finance, for the development of other infrastructural projects.