General News of Saturday, 1 November 2008

Source: GNA

President Kufuor calls for accident-free elections

Accra, Nov. 1, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor has advised motorists and the general public to be tolerant and disciplined on the roads to ensure an incident-free elections.

He said that Government would continue to strengthen the National Road Safety Commission as the lead agency to deliver on its mandate by providing road safety and advising government on policy related matters. The President said this in an address read on his behalf at the end of this year's Road Safety Walk in Accra on Saturday.

The Walk which was under the theme "Ensuring a Crash free Election 2008', started from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra through Adabraka to the Cedi House and ended at the Independence Square. It was aimed at sensitizing road users on the need to observe road safety regulations and make the up-coming general elections accident-free and to save lives and property.

President Kufuor said with the enactment of Road regulations, government would ensure the ratification of Road Traffic Regulations, the implementation of the National Transport Policy and the National Road Safety Policy as part of a comprehensive support to ensuring safety for all categories of road users.

He urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to advocate for best road safety practices which would reduce the risk related to road traffic accident related deaths and injuries. Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Transportation in an address read for him, said road traffic injuries if not checked can threaten or reverse the developmental gains made by the nation.

He expressed the hope that all would join hands to observe road safety regulations and ensure that the 2008 elections are accident free. Some of the placards the participants carried read "Park off the road and listen to your call", Be on Your track", "Don't use both lanes", and "Screen your sight and save your life". 01 Nov. 08