The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in the Eastern Region is calling on the government and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to expedite action on the Mamfe to Koforidua stretch that links the regional capital to the Greater Accra Region.
According to the GPRTU, the deplorable state of the Koforidua Mamfe road has compelled some union drivers and other private vehicle owners who travel from Koforidua to Accra on a daily basis to divert their route through the Nkurakan Adukrom stretch, a longer alternative that increases travel time and the cost of fuel.
Making these concerns known to Citi News on the sidelines of a Vivo Energy and National Road Safety Authority refresher training program for drivers in Koforidua to help reduce accidents ahead of the festive season, the Principal Industrial Relations Officer of GPRTU Koforidua Secretariat, Alhaji Salifu Alhassan, who spoke on behalf of leadership, also called on the government to waive taxes on tires to encourage drivers not to opt for second-hand and inferior tires.
“Our concern is that some of the tires do not last for a month. However, some of the drivers opt for home-use tires, and they are not reliable. So, we are calling on the government to waive taxes on tires so that drivers can afford them for their vehicles.”
The Eastern Regional Director of the National Road Safety Authority, Nana Akua Ansaah, who shared the concerns of the drivers, however, called on them to slow down and remain extra cautious when navigating deplorable roads and other roads, especially during the festive seasons, to help reduce road accidents.
“The concern has been that we would like drivers to drive and stay alive for us. We do not want to record fatalities. So, we want to educate the drivers to stay alive for us this Christmas. According to our research, most of these crashes occur because of human error, about 96% of them. And you know it is the human being who controls the vehicle and the road at the same time. That is why we gather them to impart knowledge. We give them training for them to control their vehicles on the road.”