Get All Mercedes Benz 207 Vans off Our Roads

Available statistics from the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service show that two thirds of accidents that occur on the Kumasi-Obuasi road involve Mercedes 207 mini vans. The story is the same on other road stretches in Ghana ? most accidents involve Mercedes 207 mini vans. It appears that every month at least a Mercedes 207 mini van causes carnage on Ghanaian roads. Let?s take a quick look at some accidents on our roads this year:

1. On January 29, three people died on the spot, while several others sustained various degrees of injury when a Benz cargo truck ran into several cars and later landed on a taxi cab at Afful Nkwanta on the Kumasi-Ejisu road.

2. On February 11, twelve people died, 10 of them on the spot and two later at the hospital in a multiple crash of vehicles at Akomadan in the Offinso district of Ashanti. News report had it that a Mercedes Benz van which was travelling towards Kumasi from Tamale crashed into a parked articulator, followed moments later by another crash into the first bus by another Mercedes Benz van

3. On March 17, seventeen people were killed on the spot and ten others received various degrees of injury when a Mercedes Benz 207 mini van and a Ford City Express bus were involved in an accident at Gomoa Assin on the Mankessim-Apam road

4. On April 15, it was reported that a Kumasi bound Mercedes Benz 207 mini van slammed head-on into a Benz cargo truck at Dadieso in the Asante Akyem South district, killing 13 passengers on board

5. On April 17, it was reported that eight people died instantly and 22 others received various degrees of injury when a Mercedes 207 mini van was involved in an accident at Huniano near Tarkwa

6. On May 16, 38 choristers of the Abuakwa Parish of the Roman Catholic Church in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District died in an accident. The accident occurred at the Akropong junction on the Kumasi/Sunyani. Again, a 207 Benz bus was involved.

Mercedes Benz (Daimler Chrysler) has a very impressive safety reputation when it comes to saloon cars but when it comes to passenger vans, it seems Mercedes is a killer. Since most road accidents in Ghana involve Mercedes Benz 207 vans there is something terribly wrong with that type of vehicle. Therefore, I?m surprised that the Ministry of Transportation has not, at least, taken a critical look at the safety issue of that type of van. Mercedes Benz 207 vans should not be allowed to ply long distances, if not banned from our roads altogether

Dr. Kwaku Obosu-Mensah
Assistant Professor of Sociology, Lorain County Community College

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