Bolga Court Fines Five Foreign Drivers for Overloading

A Bolgatanga Circuit Court, presided over by Mr. Imoro Ziblim, on Thursday fined five foreign drivers to a total of 2.5 million cedis, or in default six months imprisonment, for overloading.
Siaka Oulibaly, Moussa Kone, Sere Dramani, Gisse Mamadu and Ouattara Baragnelezie, are all nationals of the Republic of Mali.
They pleaded guilty to the charge, and the court convicted them on their own plea.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector of Police R.K. Ampem told the court that on January 29 2003, personnel of the Police Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) intercepted five Benz articulated trucks moving in a convoy during normal check duties on the Bolgatanga-Tamale main road.
He said the height of the cargo loaded on the trucks measures 17 feet from the ground instead of the normal 11 feet, and that this amounted to overloading under traffic law.
The culprits were therefore, arrested and put before court.
Remarking on the incident later, a Bolgatanga-based private legal practitioner, Mr Benjamin Kaba, said there was the need for the relevant Ghanaian port authorities to educate foreign drivers on the country's haulage regulations at he harbour before such drivers embark on their cross-country trips.
"If we continue to prosecute these foreign drivers without first educating them on our laws, our country's image as well as our friendly relations with our neighbours may be jeopardised," said Mr Kaba.

A Bolgatanga Circuit Court, presided over by Mr. Imoro Ziblim, on Thursday fined five foreign drivers to a total of 2.5 million cedis, or in default six months imprisonment, for overloading.
Siaka Oulibaly, Moussa Kone, Sere Dramani, Gisse Mamadu and Ouattara Baragnelezie, are all nationals of the Republic of Mali.
They pleaded guilty to the charge, and the court convicted them on their own plea.
Prosecuting, Chief Inspector of Police R.K. Ampem told the court that on January 29 2003, personnel of the Police Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) intercepted five Benz articulated trucks moving in a convoy during normal check duties on the Bolgatanga-Tamale main road.
He said the height of the cargo loaded on the trucks measures 17 feet from the ground instead of the normal 11 feet, and that this amounted to overloading under traffic law.
The culprits were therefore, arrested and put before court.
Remarking on the incident later, a Bolgatanga-based private legal practitioner, Mr Benjamin Kaba, said there was the need for the relevant Ghanaian port authorities to educate foreign drivers on the country's haulage regulations at he harbour before such drivers embark on their cross-country trips.
"If we continue to prosecute these foreign drivers without first educating them on our laws, our country's image as well as our friendly relations with our neighbours may be jeopardised," said Mr Kaba.