Let's help to reduce road accidents -Akorli

Accra (Greater Accra), 16^th November 99

Mr. Steve Akorli, Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport, on Tuesday, said it is paradoxical that the improvement of roads has contributed to rampant road accidents and loss of lives in the country.

He therefore called on all facets of society to help in whatever way necessary, to curb this menace.

Mr. Akorli was answering a parliamentary question on measures the sector Ministry is taking to improve the road network in the country.

Mr. Kwame Dwamena Aboagye, NDC-Asuogyaman, had asked the Deputy Minister about steps being taken by the Ministry to curtail rampant accidents and loss of life on the recently tarred Ashongman-Kwabenya-Dome road.

Members had earlier registered their concerns about the spate of accidents in the country, especially on the Achimota-Nsawam road.

The Deputy Minister assured the House that all tendering processes have been completed to turn the Neoplan Assembly Plant-Nsawam portion of the road into a dual carriage to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic.

He asked road users to be cautious while waiting for permanent infrastructure to alleviate the hardships they face on that road.

He hinted that the ministry is also in the process of putting safety traffic devices on aligned roads like Ashongman-Kwabenya, to reduce the rate of accidents.

Mr. Akorli told the House that persistent vandalisation of poles and other devices exhibiting traffic signs and signals, is posing serious problems to road users, as well as draining the Ministry's resources.

He appealed to communities which have these devices to protect them from thieves and vandals in order to mitigate the rate of accidents.

On charcoal carting and the dangers this posses to other road users, the Deputy Minister said the Ministry has installed various axle weight points on many trunk roads to check the problem.

He conceded that the practice indeed poses a problem but since his Ministry has no enforcement powers, civil society should endeavour to take this up by alerting the police and educating the public on the need to respect traffic rules and regulations.

Mr. Akorli mentioned a numbers of roads including the Jasikan-Kadjebi-Yendi road, which have passed the tender process and awaiting donor funding to enable their rehabilitation to begin next year.

GRi