The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) will from next week meet the leadership of the various political parties to educate them on the need to observe all road traffic regulations during political campaigns ahead of the December 2020 general elections.
The latest survey conducted by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reveals that 1,585 deaths were recorded at the end of August 2020.
This comes out of a total of 9,205 road crashes that occurred in the country.
Speaking to Citi News, Public Relations Officer of the Authority, Pearl Adusu Gyasi said the education is currently been replicated in other parts of the country as part of efforts to prevent road traffic crashes not only during the elections but also the Christmas holidays.
“Our regional offices have started engaging political parties. But the National Authority is set to hold meetings with the leadership of the political parties from next week. We are hoping that they will adhere to the measures we will put across to them.
“We are hoping that beyond the elections, we will record fewer road crashes. Especially during the festive season,” she added.
Ghana has over the last couple of years lost almost 10% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through road accidents, according to the Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah.
Statistics from the NRSA indicate that road traffic accidents cost the nation 1.6% of GDP annually, which translates into about US$165 million annually.
This means that over six years, Ghana has lost 9.6% of its GDP, which runs into about US$990million in solving road-traffic injuries and related matters.
Transport Ministry to devise measures to curb road crashes – Nana Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed concern over the rate at which road crashes occur in Ghana.
The President said the situation is unacceptable and requires urgent steps to address it.
Speaking to drivers and traders at Abossey Okai as part of his tour of the Greater Accra Region in October 2020, President Akufo-Addo expressed the hope that a new policy by the Transport Ministry will help reduce road crashes in the country.
“One of the major problems is the carnage on our roads. The deaths and accidents that are occurring on the roads of Ghana are far too much. We are hoping that the policies that are about to be put in place by the Transport Ministry will curb these things.”