National insurance Commission holds forum for commercial drivers

Agona Swedru, May 4, GNA- The Complainant and Settlement Unit of the National Insurance Commission (NIC) for the past four years settled 3000 motors cases between accident victims and insurance companies. Mr. Oliver Bio, Legal Officer of the NIC announced this at a day workshop organized by the National Insurance Company for drivers and car owners at Agona Swedru in the Central Region.

He said the establishment of the unit has brought sanity and unity in the transport sector, adding that gone were the days when accidents victims went through difficulties before their compensations were paid.

Mr. Bio noted that NIC since 1996 had established a Compensation Fund to assist drivers and car owners to settle or pay their insurance claims to accident victims.

He stated that most victims and car owners had benefited from the fund since its establishment, saying the establishment of the fund was in the right direction to save the transport industry from running into trouble.

Mr Bio cautioned drivers to desist from using license B1 meant to drive private cars to drive commercial vehicles because it is against the laws and it could attract huge punishment.

Mrs. Emma Ocran, Legal Director of NIC cautioned drivers and other insurance policy makers to be circumspect about the type of Insurance companies they deal with to avoid embarrassment. She said NIC was prepared to deal with any insurance company which failed to meet requirements of the new NIC Act passed by Parliament in 2006.

She urged the people to undertake child education and motor insurance policy to enable their children to pursue high education and also avert distress and calamity.

Mrs. Ocran cautioned drivers to persuade their car owners to pay their insurance premium when it expired, adding that, action could be taken against drivers for who failed to report expired insurance to their car owners.

Mr Jeff Safo, Agona Swedru Manager of Quality Insurance and Yussif Adams, Manager Vanguard Assurance Companies urged drivers to take personal insurance policy to assist them in time of difficulties. They said the government had made third party insurance policy compulsory because of the safety of the passengers and property when accidents occured.