Veep calls for pro-active measures to curtail road accidents
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday appealed to the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) and stakeholders to step up their educational programmes on road safety to avoid preventable road accidents.
“Government would do everything necessary for the total reduction of accidents and we expect that you will all play your roles responsibly to ensure an accident – free country in the coming years,” he added.
Vice President Mahama made the appeal when he commissioned 88 vehicles of the Road Safety Management Services Limited (RSML), a private road safety company in Accra to launch the operation of towing services in the country.
The vehicles, which are made up towing trucks, ambulances and motor-bikes would be used jointly by the company, the NRSC, Ghana Police Service and other stakeholders in road safety and accident free activities.
RMSL ambulances would be used in conveying accident victims to hospitals and other health facilities, while the motor-bikes would help the police to carry out rapid response to accident scenes in the cities.
Vice President Mahama expressed regret that an average of 12,000 road accidents is recorded in Ghana annually leading to the death of 1,800 on the average.
He appealed to the agents of change in road accidents to dedicate their educational programmes on the use of roads and road-worthy vehicles, which formed a major component of the accidents.
He cautioned politicians and drivers against reckless driving before and during the campaigns leading to the general election, saying: “‘We do not need to rush… during elections to be involved in unnecessary accidents.”
Air Commodore Basin Dery (Rtd), General Manager of RMSL said his outfit would provide large parking lots for towed disabled vehicles and provide emergency paramedical and ambulance services to accident victims.
He said the company would also provide vehicle repair and maintenance services at the depot and support the establishment of neighbourhood watch units to fight against crime and other societal disorders.
The General Manager said his company would establish 45 depots across the country, particularly in the accident-prone areas, which would be provided with workshops, rest stops and restaurants, large parking lots among other facilities.
Source: GNA