Gomoa District Assembly to check recalcitrant drivers

Apam, C/R, Feb 26, GNA - The Chiefs and Elders in the Gomoa District of the Central Region have agreed to officially write to the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) and the Gomoa District Assembly to erect approved speed ramps in their communities.

They also agreed not to erect new ones in their various communities while they awaited GHA and Gomoa District Assembly.

The District Assembly told the chiefs and the people that, recalcitrant drivers, who go beyond the speed limit and drive recklessly would be made to face the full rigorous of the law.

This consensus was reached when Ms Joyce Aidoo, District Chief Executive for Gomoa, met chiefs, elders and various branch members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union to discuss the erection of speed ramps in the District at Apam.

More than 20 communities in the Gomoa District had erected illegal speed ramps on the highways, which had attracted criticisms from the public.

The chiefs accepted to educate their people on how to cross the roads especially during funerals and festivals.

Nana Ayew Kwana, Chief of Gomoa Denkyira told the meeting that the ramps were made to save the lives of his people, adding that last year 10 people were killed while three people had been knocked down and killed between January and February this year.

The Chief of Gomoa Kumasi, Nana Ekwa Kwegyire said that 15 lives had been lost in the town through reckless driving by some drivers. They contended that it was not their intention to erect the ramps but they did it to stop the knocking down and killing of their people. Ms Aidoo told the chiefs and people that the District Assembly would contact Apam District Police Commander to arrest and prosecute drivers especially floating ones, who speed.

She called on the GPRTU and PROTOA to educate their drivers on the need to reduce their speed when they get to the town to avoid knocking down people.

The DCE pledged to inform District Chief Executives in the Agona, Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Cape Coast and Mfantseman District to discuss the issue with their various transport organisations so that drivers would reduce their speed when entering the Gomoa District.