Police withdraw MTTU personnel from the road

Kumasi, Sept. 4, GNA - The Ashanti Regional Police Command, has announced that, it would with effect from Monday September 8, withdraw all personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) from the roads and allow only personnel, who would direct and ensure free flow of traffic in the city to operate. The Command said the decision was necessitated by persistent media reports and public sentiments on alleged extortion of monies from commercial and other drivers by some MTTU personnel for violation of the Road Traffic Act. A statement signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Kwaku Ayesu Opare-Addo, Regional Police Commander and issued in Kumasi on Thursday, said under the new arrangements, police personnel would be instructed not to stop any vehicle to check documents such as insurance certificates, road worthiness certificates, drivers' license, triangle defective tyres, among others. It said personnel of the MTTU, would be returned onto the roads fortnightly and operate for two days after which they would retire for another fortnight, and that, this action was aimed at measuring responsible road and motoring attitudes. It would also ensure that motorists do not take undue advantage of the directives and indiscriminately flout road traffic regulations by not renewing their documents. The statement noted that, day and night patrolmen as well as highway patrol teams would however continue with their normal duties. The command said the duties of the highway and other patrol teams would be limited to searching vehicles for offensive weapons and contrabands goods. The statement advised motorists who would be stopped and harassed by an individual or a group of police personnel contrary to the directive should report directly to the Regional Commander for prompt action and reminded drivers to note however that they have not been mandated to ignore police personnel who stop them on the roads. "Motorists are to stop on request by a uniformed policeman, but if the conduct of the police conflicts with this directive then the driver should subsequently lodge a complaint to the appropriate quarters". The Command warned that the absence of the police on the roads does not encourage lawlessness and that drivers who disregard the rules of driving would be dealt with according to the law.