55 ACCIDENTS CLAIMED 17 LIVES IN 2007 (PAGE 35)

ROAD accidents are taking a toll on the human resources of the nation. Statistics available at the Hohoe branch of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service indicate that 55 road accidents involving 78 vehicles were recorded in the area in 2007, resulting in 17 deaths while 109 people sustained various degrees of injury.
In 2006, 83 accidents involving 88 vehicles were recorded out of which 11 people lost their lives while 123 others sustained injuries.
Only one driver was charged in connection with the accidents during the two-year period, but he was acquitted and discharged. The rest were either cautioned to be of good behaviour or are awaiting trial.
These facts came to light at a one-day workshop organised by drivers in Hohoe to determine the causes of accidents on the roads in the area.
Some of the commercial drivers, who spoke at the ceremony contended that they were poorly paid by their employers, adding that their social security contributions were also not paid as required by law.
That development, according to the drivers, put them under pressure in striving to make ends meet.
They were of the view that if the law that established the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contribution for workers (PNDC 247 of 1991) was not enforced to benefit drivers, accidents would continue to occur on the roads.
The Executive Director of the West Africa Rural Development Foundation, a Hohoe-based non-governmental organisation, Mr Francis Dimake, said after his interaction with drivers in the Hohoe Municipality, it came to light that drivers faced a lot of problems that were unknown to the general public for them to appreciate.
“I identified that drivers work under constant pressure from their vehicle owners. Drivers suffer a lot, especially when travelling in the night when all passengers sleep as soon as the vehicles take off, leaving their lives and valuables in the care of the motorists,” Mr Dimake said.
“However, when the passengers arrive safely, nobody comes to thank the driver but when a misfortune occurs, the driver is first to be accused. Drivers are, therefore, looking for a policy which will enforce PNDC Law 247 of 1991 in their favour,” he stated.
Mr Dimake, therefore, suggested that before the roadworthiness certificate of a commercial vehicle was renewed, the vehicle owner must show evidence of payment of social security contribution for the driver.
For his part, Togbega Gabusu, the Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, did not mince words when he added his voice to the steps to minimise the carnage on the roads.
He noted that accidents were affecting the manpower resources of the nation and also creating too many orphans in society.
Togbega Gabusu wondered why drivers would not exercise a bit of patience while driving in order to reach their destinations safely.
He stated that recent reports of roads accidents had been so harrowing that one could not understand what was happening.
The paramount chief, therefore, advised motorists to heed road safety measures and protect the lives of people. Togbega Gabusu attributed the rampant accidents in the area to speeding, dangerous overtaking, tiredness on the part of drivers leading to sleeping behind the steering wheel and improper maintenance of vehicles.