Stakeholders to reduce road fatalities

Stakeholders in the transport sector in the Eastern Region have pledged their unflinching commitment to play their respective role to help reduce fatal accidents on the roads.

This is to ensure that the country attains the United Nation’s decade of action plan, which seeks to record a single digit of fatalities on the road by 2020.

The stakeholders in the national road safety sector including the various transport unions, the Ghana Red Cross Society, the Driver Vehicular Licensing Authority, the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service made the pledge in Koforidua during the fifth Regional National Road Safety Awards ceremony.

The National Road Safety Awards celebration was instituted by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) five years ago to recognise transport unions and drivers as well as individuals who are road safety conscious.

The awards ceremony also offers the platform to create awareness on road safety regulations geared towards achieving the UN decade of the action plan.

The theme for this year’s celebration was: “Recognising good practices that enhance road safety.”

Opening the programme, Deputy Commissioner of Police Akuriba Yaagy, the Regional Police Commander , cautioned drivers and vehicle owners to adopt maintenance culture.

He advised police personnel to be up and doing in enforcing the motor traffic laws.

He urged road users to adhere to road safety signs and regulations.

Mr Antwi -Boasiako Sekyere, the Regional Minister, gave the assurance that government would not relent on its effort in supporting the road transport sector to ensure safety on the roads.

Mr Kwasi Yirenkyi, the regional Manager of the NRSC, expressed appreciation of the commitment of the stakeholders in ensuring road safety consciousness.

Transport unions that met the road safety award criteria were awarded, with the Metro Mass Transport taking the first place, Progressive Transport Association emerging second while Ghana Private Road Transport Union secured the third place.

The Deputy Regional Minister, Ms Mavis Ama Frimpong was appointed and honoured as The Road Safety Ambassador of the Region.