Police to collaborate with drivers' unions

Ho, July 15, GNA - The Volta Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr David Ampah-Bennin, on Wednesday promised to resolve a promote healthy relationship between the police and drivers to help reduce the spate of accidents in the region. He said forging cordiality with drivers' unions would go a long way to check the menace.

"We are fighting the same course," he said when he visited the Volta Regional Secretariat of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to introduce himself officially to its officials. ACP Ampah-Benin said drivers' unions have significant roles to play in tackling road accidents since commercial vehicles constituted about 60 to 65 per cent in the region.

He said overloading and non-compliance of other road regulations constituted acts of indiscipline, which the police have the duty to tackle.

ACP Ampah-Bennin said the police would strictly enforce the use of log books by commercial drivers and hoped the unions would ensure that their members complied with the new provision. Mr Moses Davor, Volta Regional Chairman of GPRTU commended the Commander for the initiative and expressed the interest of the union in working with the Command.

He alleged that some policemen were not cooperating with drivers in the districts and hoped that would change for the better. Mr Davor appealed to the Regional Command to detail police patrol teams to lorry stations in the region to check incidences of crime in those locations.

Mr Davor also urged the Regional Command to take a second look at the usage of motorbikes being used as means of public transport and banned the practice if it was illegal.