NRSC to receive more powers on road safety

A law will soon be passed to empower the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) to enforce road regulations in the country, Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah has stated.

The NRSC, which is under the Transport Ministry, is currently mandated with promoting and coordinating road safety activities in the country. However, that will soon change after Mr Asiamah, addressing transport owners in Kumasi on Saturday April 1, said his ministry had been tasked by the president to draft new legislation that will provide the NRSC with powers to ensure compliance with road traffic regulations.

According to the Minister, work on the bill will “soon” be completed after which it will be submitted to cabinet for the necessary changes to be made.

“Cabinet will accept it after which it will be taken to parliament so parliament approves, then we empower the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) to enforce the law,” he told transport owners on the second day of Mr Akufo-Addo’s three-day tour of the Ashanti Region, having accompanied the president to the region for the visit.

Mr Asiamah called for “cooperation” from drivers once the law is passed “because those dying [from accients] could be your sibling or your mother or even you”.

His call followed an earlier plea by the president to the drivers, to do their best to ensure this year’s Easter records the least number of road crashes.

Mr Akufo-Addo said there was the need for road users to observe regulations while government plays its part by putting in the necessary checks including registration and licensing of drivers and vehicles.

“We must sit down and take a look at all the regulations in the transport sector. We’re going to do that with you to make sure that there is proper licensing and a proper registration system in place that will protect all of us. So I’m giving you that assurance.

“Also, this Easter, we should make it a matter of concern that this year, the accidents on our roads during the Easter period, we’ll bring them down. Everyone should decide that we are going to observe the rules on the road and make this Easter the best in terms of casualties and accidents on our roads this year. This is my biggest wish I put before you. Help me realise it.”

Mr Asiamah disclosed that a total of 354 deaths were recorded in January and February alone from motor accidents while “over 3000” lost their lives in 2016