Accra, Oct. 16, GNA - The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) on Monday appealed to the Ga Traditional Council to assist it in its fight against road accidents, which are on the ascendancy despite on-going education and campaign.
Mr Johnson Cliff Aboagye, Chairman, NRSC, who made the appeal during a courtesy call on the Ga Traditional Council, admitted that the Commission had not been able to achieve the desired success in its campaign on road safety, because the chiefs had not been involved in the past.
"We cannot run away from our culture, where chiefs are the supreme heads and their instructions, admonitions and cautions are obeyed to the letter," he said.
Mr Aboagye, who appealed to the chiefs to assist in the education campaigns in the fight against road accidents, said: "We want to create a forum where we can dialogue with the chiefs on how to bring an end to the increasing spate of accidents on our roads.
"We believe the drivers, pedestrians and other road users would listen and obey your instructions when you are involved in the campaign."
Nii Kojo Ababio V, Ngleshie Alata Mantse, who deputized for the Acting President of the Ga Traditional Council, Nii Adotey Obour, Sempe Mantse, pledged the Council's assistance in the Commission's efforts to ensure safety on the roads.
He attributed the problem of increase in road accidents to the increased number of second-hand cars and tyres being used by vehicles and urged government to bring back companies that manufactured tyres in Ghana so that their products would also serve the sub-region. Nii Kojo Ababio said with good tyres and less rickety cars on the road, accidents could be curtailed.
Nii Adjetey Kraku IV, Tema Mantse, thanked the Commission for giving them the recognition saying, "We will work jointly with the Commission and go to the stations together to educate the drivers." He complained about traffic lights saying, "I do not know why we cannot connect solar panels to our traffic lights for them to work even if the lights go off...."
Nii Adjetey Kraku urged the Commission to ensure that traffic lights were cleaned to enable drivers to see them clearly. "As it is now, most traffic lights are dusty, making it difficult for some drivers to notice them when they change from one colour to the other." 16 Oct. 06
