Police mount Operation Traffic Discipline

Accra (Greater Accra), 26 Jan. '99 -

The Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) has launched an operation to ensure discipline on Accra roads. It involves arresting drivers of mini-buses, which are carrying more passengers than they are licensed to carry.

The Commander of the Unit, Mr Mustapha Garba, mentioned ''Hyundai Grace'' mini buses, which have been registered to take 12 passengers but are taking 15 persons.

He told newsmen that 30 vehicles have been arrested since the exercise began on Monday and those arrested were immediately put before court and fined between 50,000 cedis and 200,000 cedis each or l serve prison terms in default.

Mr Garba said under the road traffic regulation, it is an offence to increase the number of passengers a vehicle is licensed to carry and advised vehicle owners to check the sitting capacity of their vehicles.

He appealed to the public to help the Police in the exercise and said people should insist on their rights when boarding vehicles.

"Nineteen ninety nine is an operational year for the Police so the driving public must wake -up and obey road traffic regulations as offenders would not be spared".