The Bureau of Public Safety has charged the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) to establish its independent institutional campaign against road traffic infractions to augment gains made in Citi TV’s War against indiscipline campaign.
This call is part of recommendations contained in the Ghana Public Safety and crime report by the bureau which revealed that transportation-related incidents accounted for 41% of all deaths caused by public safety cases in the first half of 2019.
The report also indicated that the three most frequently reported public safety events were crime, violent crime and Civil Disturbances.
“The contribution of a sport fine regime in improving the safety and security on our roads cannot be overemphasized. Government has not shown a tangible commitment to reducing the carnage on the roads as the spot fine system continues to be only a matter of discussion in the last decade.”
“The BPS acknowledges recent efforts initiated by Citi TV/FM in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the GPS to reduce indiscipline on the roads, however the MTTD of the GPS must establish and own a sustained institutional campaign to enforce basic road laws across Ghana in order to achieve any meaningful gains in curbing road crashes and associated casualties”, portions of the report added.
Police get two new vehicles to support War Against Indiscipline campaign
The Ghana Police Service has said, it has procured two vehicles and other security equipment to sustain Citi TV’s War Against Indiscipline campaign.
The Director-General in charge of Public Affairs for the Police, ACP David Eklu, said: “for now we have two brand new vehicles that will support the operation.”
He also outlined the focus of the Police’s collaboration with Citi TV on the campaign.
“The essence is to make our roads safe… if you are driving, you must consider other road users. If we are able to get this into the psyche and driving the culture of Ghanaians, I believe that we should be able to reduce road crashes significantly.”
Citi TV‘s collaboration with the Ghana Police Service to clamp down on drivers flouting road traffic regulations has seen the state benefit from GH¢258,000 in fines.
Almost 500 drivers have been arrested for breaching traffic regulations on various roads in Accra.
Some notable offenders have included the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem, George Mireku Duker and the Member of Parliament for Kade, Kwabena Ohemeng Tinyaase.
The collaboration started on June 17, 2019, has so far covered roads in the Greater Accra Region noted for reckless driving.
#WAI campaign to continue into 2020
Citi TV’s campaign to address the incident of indiscipline on Ghana’s roads will not be stopped any time soon.
This is according to the station’s Chief Executive Officer, Samuel Atta-Mensah who is confident that the collaboration with the police on the campaign will help to restore sanity on the roads.
