Minister appeals to GPRTU to help curb accidents

Sunyani, March 26, GNA - Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Brong- Ahafo Regional Minister, has said members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) should make public safety their priority to curb accidents.

"The safety and security of passengers and the general public must take precedence over all other considerations of the union," he said. Mr. Nyamekye Marfo, who was speaking in Sunyani during a courtesy call on him by the Brong-Ahafo Regional executive members of the union, said other road transport associations should also put the safety of people first.

He said most of the accidents were caused by human errors and cited some of them as drink driving, speeding and lack of maintenance of vehicles.

The Regional Minister suggested that illiterate drivers should not be permitted to drive because "they do not know, let alone recognize, observe and understand road signs and highway codes." Mr. Nyamekye Marfo appealed to the GPRTU and other road transport associations to collaborate with the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority in organising workshops and seminars for their members and non-members. He spoke about the rate of armed robbery on highways and said the Regional Security Council would tackle the problem. "Where necessary I will liaise with my colleagues in the Ashanti and other adjoining regions to device a common strategy to combat it in our areas of jurisdiction."

Mr. Kofi Kokwa, the Brong-Ahafo Regional chairman of the GPRTU, suggested that highway patrols by the security agencies should start from mid-night to 0400 hours.