Ghana Medical Association bemoans increasing spate of road crashes
The Ghana Medical Association has expressed worry about the spate of carnages on Ghana’s roads in recent times and has called it unacceptable.
According to the association, in the first nine months of this year alone 11,858 road crashes were recorded of which there were 2,126 casualties which is alarming.
They also added that unfortunately, 6 lives are lost each day in Ghana to road traffic crashes.
According to the GMA communique issued at the end of its 63rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Sunyani from 2nd to 7th November 2021, “Road safety in the country is bedevilled by pre-crash challenges such the general indiscipline of road users, poor road design and construction, exponential increase in motorcycle-related crashes and casualties, weak enforcement of road traffic regulations and the absence of a legislative instrument (L I.) for the NRSA Act, 2019 (Act 993).
“The post-crash challenges accounting for lives on the roads in Ghana include inadequate trauma care centres in the country and insufficient funding for health facilities to cater for crash victims as well as non-reimbursing of funds spent on crash victims by health facilities.
“To curb the current trend of fatalities on the road, the GMA recommends the following: Dualization of major highways in Ghana and intermodal transportation, the conduct of a road safety audit with the treatment of hazardous sections, Provision of rest stops every 80-100km along major highways to manage, automation of traffic enforcement, Continuous driver training and training of trainers for motorcycle/tricycle riders.”
Regarding regulation of commercial road passenger, haulage, and transport-related services, it said “We urge all stakeholders in the road safety sector to work hard to avert more crashes during the Christmas and New Year festivities.”
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
