The opposition New Patriotic Party has accused Government of exhibiting weak leadership in dealing with problem of road safety.
This comes on the back of the tragic Tamale-Kintampo road accident which killed at least 61 people.
[contextly_sidebar id=”KRn1SvZLjmuxsUgkOi5VYM6wJPdib6Vw”]In a statement signed by the NPP’s Director of Communications, Nana Akomea, the NPP bemoaned what it calls “Government’s lack of proactivity in ensuring safety on our roads.”
They challenged Government to stop paying lip service to the problem and instead exhibit strong leadership by implementing pragmatic solutions to improve road safety.
“This problem has been long identified. Pragmatic solutions have also been long advocated and agreed. However, the rhetoric has not been backed by the needed leadership to implement the pragmatic measures we all agree are necessary to reduce these tragic accidents.”
“…what has been solely lacking is the leadership to ensure implementation of the pragmatic measures that we all agree will reduce these tragic road accidents,” the statement added.
The NPP also proposed some solutions to the problem.
“One pragmatic measure that has long been advocated and agreed is the need for a policy to require mandatory installation of speed alarms in all long distance passenger buses. This will be the best way of ensuring that those who have died at Kintampo would not have died in vain.”
Find below their full statement.
THE SPATE OF TRAGIC ACCIDENTS ON OUR HIGHWAYS: GOVERNMENT SHOULD SHOW LEADERSHIP IN IMPLEMENTING PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
The spate of horrendous, tragic vehicular accidents on the nation’s highways have caused immense sorrow to many families and the nation at large.
One such recent accident occurred at the Winneba junction, when a passenger Benz bus, whilst engaged in overtaking, ran headlong into a tipper truck.
Over a dozen Ghanaians lost their lives instantly in this accident.
Just last Wednesday 17 February at Kintampo, a passenger bus, also in an attempt to overtake, ran headlong into a cargo truck.
Over 60 Ghanaians have so far lost their lives in this accident. According to one survivor, the driver of the passenger bus was speeding recklessly. The pictures and footage from these accidents have drawn shock and tears from many Ghanaians.
The common thread in these tragic accidents has mainly been reckless driving, manifest in over speeding, by drivers of long distance passenger buses.
This problem has been long identified. Pragmatic solutions have also been long advocated and agreed. However, the rhetoric has not been backed by the needed leadership to implement the pragmatic measures we all agree are necessary to reduce these tragic accidents.
This unfortunate pattern is repeating itself again in the wake of the Kintampo accident.
President Mahama, earlier this year remarked that passengers needed to be vigilant in checking driver over speeding. At the recent swearing in of IGP Kudalor (in the wake of the Kintampo accident), he again lamented that “many people are losing their lives because of reckless driving”
He went on to charge the police to cooperate with the transport organisations to check the growing indiscipline and lawlessness on the roads.
Various leaders make similar laments and exhortations when these accidents occur.
As indicated, what has been sorely lacking is the leadership to ensure implementation of the pragmatic measures that we all agree will reduce these tragic road accidents.
One pragmatic measure that has long been advocated and agreed is the need for a policy to require mandatory installation of speed alarms in all long distance passenger buses.
The loud warning alarm anytime a driver goes beyond an agreed limit, all agree, will be best way to limit over speeding in long distance passenger buses and hence reduce these accidents that result from this reckless over speeding.
The NPP urges the government to this time not end with the rhetoric. Government should immediately initiate processes to legislate this policy, to make it mandatory for all long distance passenger vehicles to be fitted with speed alarms.
This will be the best way of ensuring that those who have died at Kintampo would not have died in vain.
Signed: Nana Akomea (Director of Communications)
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By Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana