HALT THE CARNAGE ON THE ROADS — BUAH (PAGE 20, FEB 2, 2010)

THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Buah, has urged commercial drivers and other road users to launch a crusade to prevent road accidents in the country.
He said most of the contributory factors for the fatalities on the roads were human errors, which were known to all drivers, both private and commercial.
Mr Buah made the call when he met members of the Aiyinasi branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to discuss their problems and how to enhance their operations.
The MP noted that accidents on the roads were a drain on the country’s resources.
Mr Buah said, “we are all aware of these factors; therefore, if we pause for a moment to reflect on our actions and consider our personal safety and its effects on our families, we will appreciate the need to halt the carnage on the roads”.
“I want you to remember that the best driver is not the one who can speed but the one who arrives at his destination alive,” he said.
The deputy minister reminded the GPRTU and other transport unions that they played very important roles in the country’s development so they should exhibit high level of professionalism in their work to avoid accidents.
“Ensure that your vehicles are well maintained, take good rest, no alcohol while on duty and travel at acceptable speed limit that will enable you to respond to any possible unexpected occurrences,” he stressed.
Mr Buah said the government was committed to the well-being of drivers and would support them by addressing their concerns to ensure safety on the roads.
For his part, the District Chief Executive, Mr Daniel K. Eshun, said the district assembly would do its best to support the drivers in all their activities.
He revealed that after the district assembly elections this year, one nominee from the GPRTU would be requested to represent drivers at the assembly to relay their concerns at assembly meetings.
The Aiyinasi branch Chairman of the GPRTU, Mr Emmanuel Good-Frankton, thanked the drivers of the branch for their co-operation which helped immensely in reducing accidents in the area last year, and urged them to strive in maintaining the achievement.
He attributed the success story to the fact that the drivers were disciplined and refrained from drunkenness during working hours.
Mr Good-Frankton thanked the MP and the DCE for their visit and called on them to use their good offices to impress upon the police to deal leniently with drivers at all times.