The Western Regional Road Safety Authority in collaboration with Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate, Driver vehicle Licenses, and National Insurance Commission have brought to a close a two-day workshop aimed at enhancing the level of professionalism and knowledge of Motor and Tricycle owners in the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis in Road Safety.
Road Accident statistics for the Western Region from January to May 2021 indicates that out of the 58 people who died of road accidents, 19 death were recorded for motor and tricycle incidents while 25 pedestrians also died out of motor-related incidents.
The low level of knowledge in road safety among motor and tricycle riders coupled with increasing spate of casualties were among the major reasons which necessitated the stakeholder workshop to reduce the worrying trend.
The two-day workshop which started from Wednesday June 16th, to Thursday June 17th, 2021 at the Effiakuma Christ the King saw Mr. Benjamin Acquah, Regional Director of Red Cross society taken participants through basic First Aid Application and Accident Resuscitation Procedures to enable to motorist to professionally support their colleagues at accident scenes.
National Insurance commission led by Justice Peprah Agyie threw more light on its mandate as supervising the activities of the various insurance companies and ensuring the adherence to rules set out by the body. The body also used the occasions to motivate and empower stakeholders to report their concerns and challenges they face with the various insurance companies to the Mother body.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Spice News the Western Regional MTTD Commander, Isaac Kwesi Sokpa spoke on the purpose of the multi-stakeholder workshop for Motor and Tricycle riders.
“In Ghana Today Motor is predominantly used as a means of transport, we have also observed that some people use it in committing crimes while many also don’t obey the road safety regulations. MTTD can say that close to 100 motor riders who have flouted road safety laws have been fined.
“ Evaluation of the entire operations of climbing down on those who flouted road safety laws from time to time by Road Safety Regulators, we have come to a realization that more of many Motor and Tricycle owners lack knowledge in their work to maintain safety on the road, therefore the need for this move’’ he said
He went on further to hint of an upcoming exercise to maintain sanity on the road which also measures the impact the workshop on motorist.
“Immediately after this training, we are beginning the enforcement of road safety laws on our roads. Where perpetrators are expected to be prosecuted at court. We will also go ahead to advise the court to take their licenses of perpetrators who continuously flaunt the law because they easily pay the fine”.
DVLA was also led by Micheal Asigiya a Technical Engineer also took his turn to take participants through defensive driving and the basic tools expected to accompany a rider on the road before setting off for the day.
“We took them through causes of accidents, the risk taken behavior of some riders, and safety tools to be considered before embarking on a journey”
The Ghana Road Safety Authority as a host coordinated all activities toward ensuring a successful workshop. The Western regional Head of the Ghana Road Safety Authority, Nana Ekua Ansah expressed satisfaction about the event. According to her all those who participated in the event expressed by high level of satisfaction after participation.
“All those who came are very happy about the content of the program, we are working towards replicating similar content in the hinterlands to ensure a widespread benefit”
Meanwhile talking about the experience and lessons learnt so far, she assured of massive publicity in subsequent events and reduction of the time for the various session. Madam Nana Ekua Ansah also lamented on sponsorship challenges but added that “aggressive plans are underway to ensure that the right sponsors are brought on board”
All Road Safety Stakeholders in the Western Region are currently preparing to hit the road to start massive operations toward raiding the road from illegal road users and those who are flouting the road safety laws for prosecution.
Story By Kwame Offei
