Recalcitrant riders in Wa arrested to reduce road accidents

Wa, Sept. 3, GNA - As part of efforts to reduce the number of persons involved in motor accidents resulting in deaths and injuries in the Wa Municipality, the Upper West Regional Police Command, has embarked on a special exercise to arrest persons riding motorbikes without crash helmets.

Unlicensed and unregistered motorcycle owners would also be arrested and put on trial to serve as a deterrent to other offenders. About 25 offenders have so far been arrested and four of them arraigned before the Wa District Magistrate's Court presided over by Nana Rockson Kpodo.

Fines ranging from GH=A2600 (6 million cedis) to GH=A2730 (7.3 million cedis) had been slapped on them or in default 12 months imprisonment in hard labour.

Police Inspector Ebenezer Tetteh, in charge of the Public Affairs Unit, who briefing the GNA on the exercise mentioned Hamidu Mogtari, Francis Kpiebaye, Desmond Kasnah and Abdul Rahman Fatiya as those arraigned before the court.

He said most of the offenders were, however, refusing to come to the Police Station to be charged and put on trial, a situation that had created congestion at the Regional Rapid Response Unit yard. The Police Command has issued a warning to the offenders to avail themselves of the due process or have their motorcycles impounded and auctioned. 03 Sept. 07