Road accidents consume 1.6% of GDP

Accra, April 3, GNA - Road crashes contribute 1.6 per cent loss of the country's Gross Domestic Products, Mr Justice Amegashie, Director of

the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), said on Friday. He said insurance companies therefore had a major role to play in researching into causes of road crashes and share the findings for stakeholders to adopt more pragmatic measures in dealing with the situation. Mr Amegashie said this at the launch of Vanguard Assurance Company Limited road safety campaign aimed at reducing accidents especially during the Easter festivities.

He said ensuring road safety was not the duty of one entity, "and that is why corporate Ghana must be concerned in that direction". Mr Gideon Amenyedor, Acting Chief Executive, Vanguard Assurance, said the campaign would focus on two thematic areas: "If you drink, Don't Drive and if you drive don't drink; and "If you are tired, don't drive and if you drive and get tired on the way, break and take a rest."

Mr Amenyedor therefore urged the public to contribute to the campaign by sending SMS to their friends on the need to maintain and ensure safety on the road particularly at Easter.

Mr Daniel Awuah-Darko, Vice Chairman of Vanguard, reminded Ghanaians that road safety was a collective responsibility, saying "Let us therefore keep each other safe on the road".