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General news for Friday, November 27, 2020
Source: GNA
2020-11-27
National Highway Safety Authority
The director general of the National Highway Safety Authority (NRSA), May Obiri-Yeboah, said on Thursday that Ghana recorded around 2,080 road traffic deaths and 12,380 injuries of various kinds between January and October this year.
He said the Authority’s preliminary investigations pointed to non-compliance with traffic regulations as the main cause of these crashes and the resulting deaths and injuries.
Ms Obiri-Yeboah said this at a road safety workshop organized for imams in Accra on the theme: “Road safety leadership in communities”, which aimed to develop the capacity of imams to become advocates for the road safety in their respective communities and areas of influence.
He said the incidence of crashes involving motorcyclists and passengers was increasing, adding that between January and October, a total of 827 people were killed in motorcycle crashes and 3,802 were injured.
She said the effects of these crashes went beyond the victims; spouses, children and that families bore the terrible social and economic cost associated with accidents.
Ms. Obiri – Yeboah said that the Muslim community in Ghana had played an important role in the nation’s efforts to ensure sanity on the roads.
“We recognize in particular the influential role of Islamic faith and leadership in ensuring the safety of Muslims and humanity in general,” he said.
He said that Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, the national chief imam, was honored as an ambassador for road safety to lead and advocate for safe road use practices among Muslims across the country.
Ms Obiri-Yeboah said that imams in various communities and mosques could go a long way in improving the country’s road safety situation.
She said they could help address the increase in casualties associated with motorcycle use by providing the motivation necessary for her students and followers to behave well as road users.
She said the program and others like it would help collectively deal with the threat of traffic fatalities and victims, especially those involving motorcycles.
Ms. Obiri-Yeboah called on politicians to advise their supporters to wear helmets when riding motorcycles to demonstrations and to stop riding in style.
He added that politicians should not overload people on buses or in the buckets of trucks, but should transport them by bus properly to avoid victims.
He advised drivers to desist from overloading, speeding, getting drunk and reckless driving, especially during the Christmas season.
He also advised pedestrians to refrain from using mobile phones when crossing the street.
Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq, Personal Assistant to the National Chief Imam, speaking on behalf, the National Chief Imam commended the NRSA for organizing the workshop.
Dr. Marzuq said that all citizens of the country have a role to play in ensuring safety on the roads.
He said Muslims should harness Islamic values relevant to national efforts to preserve human dignity on the roads.
Dr. Marzuq said the imams were advocacy leaders who people listen to, so involving them in the campaign was laudable.
He said that non-compliance with road safety laws was the cause of traffic accidents and that the involvement of magnets would help educate people on the need to comply with these laws.
Dr Marzuq said a more intensive campaign was needed at all points of worship on road safety.
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