MTTU undergoes training on ECOWAS Brown Card
Personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service in the Upper East Region were on Thursday sensitised on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Brown Card Insurance Scheme.
The move is aimed at facilitating transport and trade in the West African Sub-region.
The Motor Vehicle Third Party Insurance Act provides for the protection of third parties against risk rising out of the use of motor vehicles and ensures free movement of persons and goods across national boundaries of ECOWAS member states.
It also serves as a common insurance cover against Third Party liabilities that motorist may incur while they drive across various national boundaries.
Addressing participants drown from various districts of the Upper East Region, Mr Gabriel Glover, Chief Executive Officer and General Secretary of the Ghana National Bureau for the ECOWAS Brown Card Scheme, indicated that the objective of the scheme is to ensure prompt and fair compensation to victims of motor accidents caused by non-citizens motorist visiting other ECOWAS member states.
Mr Glover said the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance covers third party liability for injury, death and property damage caused by visiting motorist from other ECOWAS member states.
He said the system guarantees a motor insurance cover, which would lead to the realisation of the free movement objectives of ECOWAS.
Mr Glover said in view of the protocol, each member state is expected to establish a National Bureau to administer the Brown Card Scheme within its borders.
According to him, the Brown card is a territorial extension of the local insurance cover, implying that Brown Card motor certificate could not be issued in isolation of an underlying local motor insurance cover or policy.
For national security and crime detention, he called on law enforcement agencies including the Police, Immigration and Customs officials to check all exit and entry points and roads for the validity of Brown Cards as it is a security risk for vehicles without valid insurance cover to enter any country’s territory.
Mr Glover said Ghana National Bureau is embarking on an extensive education and publicity drive to popularise the Scheme to facilitate free movement in the sub region and promote trade.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Daniel Kwoa Teye, Regional MTTU commander who expressed appreciation for the training indicated that it has boosted the confidence of the police in dealing with road traffic offenses and trans- boarder crime.
Source: GNA