Former President Jerry John Rawlings has attributed the increasing number of road accidents in the country to indiscipline and recklessness on the roads.
According to him, the non-prosecution of reckless drivers is also a major cause of the problem.
In a twitter post following two separate fatal crashes that occurred in the country on Friday with more than 60 people reportedly dead, Jerry John Rawlings called out regulatory bodies and stakeholders within the transportation space, urging them to “wake up.”
The first accident occurred on the Techiman-Kintampo road where two vehicles collided with one of the passengers buses catching fire.
Several of the passengers in the bus were burnt beyond recognition with others in the other bus dying on the spot.
Many others with varying degrees of injury were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention.
At least 60 people are reported dead from that accident.
The second accident occurred at Ekumfi Dunkwa on the Cape Coast-Accra road.
About 10 people are said to have died in that crash.
The former president believes that the Motor Traffic and Transport Division (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLU) , Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) can do a lot more to make roads safer and prevent these needless deaths.
Rawlings has been very vocal on issues of discipline in the country and recently stirred controversy on social media after a video of him alighting from his private vehicle to direct traffic at Prampam due to a heavy traffic jam.
Other personalities such as former President John Dramani Mahama have also extended their condolence to families of persons who lost their lives in the two accidents.
Mr. Mahama in a tweet called on various stakeholders including the DVLA and Police to devise new means that will ensure that roads in the country are “safer.”
“I have received confirmation of two horrific accidents at Kintampo and Ekumfi Dunkwa, reported to have claimed many lives. Another sad day for our dear country. Our roads are becoming killing fields and road safety continues to be a major challenge,” the former President said in his tweet.
“All stakeholders on road safety- DVLA, drivers unions, Police, GRSC & Government must not relent in their efforts to make our roads safer. My condolences & that of the NDC go to the families of the deceased. Our prayers are also with those injured, wishing them a speedy recovery
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By: Farida Yusif | citinewsroom.com | Ghana