Give assemblies mandate to ban sale of alcohol -DCE

Mrs Pauline Ningkpeng, Nadowli District Chief Executive (DCE), on Wednesday requested the Ministry of Roads and Transport to give the assemblies the mandate to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages at lorry stations.

He said this, would prevent drivers from drinking alcohol before working and prevent road accidents and violence and lawlessness at various stations.

Mrs Ningkpeng, who was speaking during the Upper West Regional launch of Road Safety campaign at Nadowli, called for the seizure of the licences of all traffic offenders and drunken drivers.

She appealed to the police to step up their campaign on accident prevention both in both the rural and urban areas and called for the erection of speed ramps and road signs.

The DCE denounced the application of instant justice to settle scores between drivers and accident victims adding: "It is wrong for the public to mete out instant justice on traffic offenders, no matter how serious the offence may be."

Mr Sahanun Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister in a speech read for him, called on the police to impound vehicles that are not road worthy and prosecute the drivers.

He appealed to transport unions to intensify their education on traffic regulations and enforce them to ensure discipline.

Mr S.T. Tetteh, Regional Police Commander, said that owners of stray animals that cause accidents would be punished and called on district assemblies to educate the public on the matter.

He gave the assurance that the police would work assiduously to reduce road accidents and called for co-operation from the media, district assemblies and the general public.