The Director-General of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service, COP Francis Aboagye Nyarko, has bemoaned the carnage recorded on the country’s roads.

He indicated that as part of its efforts in addressing the situation, the police has intensified its drive in curbing the carnages on roads across the country. COP Nyarko expressed the police administration’s concern over the rampant road crashes, which, he deems have led to the loss of many lives. As a consequent, he noted that the Inspector General of Police desires to see thorough management of road traffic in a bid to ensure that indiscipline on the roads are effectively dealt with.

“The vision is that we want to see more vibrant management in terms of road traffic, we want to get the indiscipline out; those driving on the shoulders of the road [and] those facing oncoming vehicles. The carnage on the road is not good. So, we will make sure that the indiscipline is reduced. The police have been trained, they have been equipped and their confidence levels are high”.
COP Francis Aboagye Nyarko

COP Nyarko made this revelation at a training programme in collaboration with the National Insurance Commission for regional MTTD, commanders, and other senior officers. To ensure discipline on the roads, he emphasized that persons found culpable of road violations will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

“You will notice that since the police began apprehending culprits, it has reduced. Although we will still get the recalcitrant ones, we can say that the majority has stopped and we believe that gradually the system will be swept clean of road indiscipline. Our officers are charged to ensure that the men to be moved out there are well-educated on what is expected of them on the field. No driver will be spared, especially those who drive facing oncoming vehicles, and on the shoulders of the roads”.
COP Francis Aboagye Nyarko

Following this, he entreated members of the public to avoid overtaking to help reduce the deaths and crashes on the road.

“The advice to the public is that you should not overtake if you cannot see what is in front of you. Unnecessary overtaking causes head-on collision leading to deaths. If drivers are disciplined, most of these can be avoided, as we are losing too much human resource”.
COP Francis Aboagye Nyarko

Statistics on road carnage

This year alone, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service has confirmed 232 persons dead through road crashes in January. Additionally, it noted that a total of 972 vehicles involved in various accidents resulted in 1,237 injuries. Also, the MTTD recorded 461 motorcycle-related crashes which led to the loss of 93 lives and 362 injuries.

In its latest report, it indicated that a total of 707 commercial vehicles were involved in these crashes leading to 95 deaths and 620 injuries. The Ashanti Region, the report noted, is leading again with 308 injuries and 44 people have dead so far. This is followed by the Greater Accra Region with 31 deaths and 186 injuries.

In the North East Region, no death was recorded as of the end of January. However, 9 injuries have been recorded so far. The report noted that the number of injuries recorded in January this year was reduced by 11.20 percent as compared to January last year when 1,393 injuries were recorded.