Konor appealed for more dual carriageways

Kpong, Dec. 4, GNA - Nene Sackite, the Konor of Manya Krobo Traditional Area, has appealed to the Transportation Ministry to construct dual carriage roads at accident-prone areas. This, he said, could help reduce road accidents that occurred as a result of overtaking on single lane roads.

The Konor made the appeal at the launch of the Eastern Regional Road Safety Week at Kpong at the weekend.

He called on drivers to respect road traffic regulations and urged them to be cautious on the roads, especially during festive occasions. The Regional Chairman of the Road Safety Committee, Assistant Commissioner of Police Asare Darko, said a practice that was causing road accidents in recent times was the washing of vehicles on roads.

Mr Asare Darko, who is also the Eastern Regional Police Commander, said despite the many outreach programmes on road safety, the region recorded an increase in accidents from January to September this year as compared to 2005.

He said in 2005, the region recorded 810 road accidents involving 1,048 vehicles whiles in 2006 the region recorded 883 accidents involving 1,185 vehicles.

He attributed the rise to drivers' non-adherence to road traffic regulations and the compromising stand of some policemen who had to enforce the regulations on the road for their own selfish ends.

Ms Susan Mensah, the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, called on leaders of drivers' unions to instill discipline in their members.