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The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, has called on all Ghanaians, especially those interested in the transport sector, to come together and work to reduce road accidents in the country to a minimum.
In effect, it has ordered the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the National Highway Safety Authority (NRSA) to activate a provision in the 2012 Road Traffic Regulations, LI 2180, which assigns responsibility to drivers Commercials take a 30 minute break after every four hours of driving.
The convocation and directive to the DVLA and NRSA are part of the government’s efforts to meet the global goal established by the United Nations (UN) to reduce deaths and injuries from traffic accidents by 50% by the year 2020 .
Addressing stakeholders in the transport sector at an event in Takoradi on Thursday, October 1, 2020, Asiamah said the goal set by the UN is achievable and urged everyone to help.
“The United Nations has set a new global goal for road safety in line with the theme ‘Achieve the Global Goals 2030’ to reduce road traffic fatalities and injuries by 50% by 2030.
“Under this global target, Ghana seeks to reduce road deaths and injuries by 50% from the current average of 2,000 deaths and around 10,000 injuries per year.
“It is possible to achieve these goals if we put in place the necessary strategies and structures, including adequate investment in public education, road engineering and emergency response to victims of traffic accidents,” he said.
Mr Asiamah further said at the meeting that there are key provisions in the 2012 Road Traffic Regulation, LI 2180, that have yet to be implemented.
Therefore, he directed the DVLA and the NRSA to work together to ensure that regulations, including provisions on commercial transportation operators, speeding, and mandatory rest periods for drivers, are implemented at the foot of the road. letter to cut down the carnage on the road.
The “Quality Bus Services” initiative, which is currently being piloted under the auspices of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, aims to help address the obvious transportation challenges in the metropolis.
The buses, according to the Transport Minister, will be deployed on the following routes: Takoradi to Apowa, Takoradi to Shama, Takoradi to Sekondi and Takoradi to Kwesimintsim.
“Our commitment is to ensure that at least the majority of the traveling public within urban areas travel by some means of mass transportation,” he stressed.
He said that some sections of the routes would be dedicated exclusively to the use of the buses during the pilot’s cause and therefore called on motorists to respect the dedicated priority lanes as the success of the bus service depends largely on measure, compliance with operating standards. procedures.
In mentioning the new DVLA building, Mr. Asiamah said that the building was a demonstration of the Authority’s commitment to providing excellent services to its clients in a more conducive environment.
“You would agree with me that reporting on DVLA is now not about ‘goro guys’ or unnecessary delays, but about good practice. I believe that ongoing reforms, along with the introduction of state-of-the-art equipment in driver and vehicle testing, have prompted the Authority to achieve this feat.
“Ghanaians can now access services in the shortest time possible without any difficulty,” he noted.
DVLA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kwasi Agyeman Busia, commenting on the building, said that “the Takoradi DVLA office is one of 29 soon to be 32 offices and more than 20 additional offices with 27 vehicle test stations. , which will soon be Ser 31 in operation throughout the country.
This translates into approximately 92 DVLA-related equipment in the country.
“Our goal is relentlessly to make our services accessible to everyone, no matter where in the country a vehicle or driver is located.”
“The inauguration of this office adds to the catalog of infrastructure improvements and innovations that we have introduced in recent times. We will continue to find new ways to optimize our services and be consistent with our persistent strategic theme of leverage, people process and technology, ”he added.
Mr. Busia revealed that the Commission has planned to open three new offices before the end of the year in Axim, Effiduase and Kumawu in the Ashanti region.
