Increasing Cases Of Road Accidents In Ghana

NEWS COMMENTARY ON THE INCREASING CASES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS IN GHANA

It is rather unfortunate the rate at which  of the country's human resource continue to be lost through road accidents on almost daily basis. Just last night, more than 50 people travelling on a Metro Mass Transit bus met their untimely death when their bus collided with a cargo truck, a few metres away from the Kintampo Township in the Brong Ahafo Region. There are many factors that lead to the numerous cases of accidents in the country. Whiles, some may rightly or wrongly attribute them to spiritual forces, there is no doubt that most of the accidents are as a result of gross indiscipline on the roads. This is evident in parking at unauthorised places, receiving calls whilst driving, over-loading, fatigue driving, drunk driving, over-speeding, non-observance of traffic rules and regulations, and poor maintenance of vehicles. It has been established that more than 90 per cent of road crashes are caused by human error. In most African countries, the rate of deaths due to injuries from a traffic accident is as high as 24 point one deaths per 100 thousand inhabitants. These are disturbing statistics. The loss of innocent lives through road traffic accidents is just alarming and mind boggling. The greatest worry over these accidents apart from death and disability is their socio-economic implication for the nation.

According to the World Health Organisation, road traffic accidents affecting young and productive age are globally the second cause of death followed by HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis. According to a UN report published in 2008, the annual costs of road traffic crashes in low and middle-income countries were estimated between 65 to100 billion dollars, which is far more than the total annual amount received in development aid. In fact, when the cost is expressed as a percentage of the Gross National Product in most African countries, the statistics are simply staggering. For instance, it ranges from 0.8 per cent in Ethiopia, one per cent in South Africa, 2.3 per cent in Zambia and 2.7 per cent in Botswana to almost five per cent in Kenya. In 2011, the National Road Safety Commission reported that road accidents, caused Ghana 145 million dollars, representing one point four per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. Considering the magnitude of the effects, there is the need for concerted, multi-sectorial effort to combat the menace of road traffic accidents. This calls for strict enforcement of road traffic regulations. 

It is paradoxical that while murder is a crime punishable by death, drivers whose negligence and recklessness results in the death of thousands of people are most often left off the hook. The issue of driver licensing and vehicle road worthy certification must be taken seriously. This reinforces the need to do away with middlemen popularly known as goro boys. The practice whereby people sit in the comfort of their bedrooms and offices and acquire driver's license and road worthy certificates without any physical examination must be a thing of the past. Statistics available indicate that saloon cars form the bulk of vehicles involved in such crashes with 56 percent of these occurring in broad day light. 

Car owners must understand that those requirements are put in place to ensure their own safety and that of the larger society. They must therefore refrain from that culture of trying to beat the system. The National Road Safety Commission and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service, may be doing their bit, but that is certainly not enough. Many people are of the view that, officers on the roads are not really interested in enforcing rules and regulations, but rather in taking money from motorists. Whether real or perceived, these officers need to change their approach and demonstrate clearly that they are professionals. There is the need to map out the country into zones for effective road safety education. Statistics show that the Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo, Eastern and Ashanti are the most crash prone regions, accounting for 64 percent of the 395 national road fatalities recorded in the first quarter of last year. It is estimated that six people are killed every day and 2000 die annually due to road crashes in the country.  Majority of those who die from these crashes are between the ages of 18 and 45 years with about 75 per cent of them being males. This shows a relatively high road traffic crash death rate for adults than for children for the period January to March, 2015.  

Road accidents are painful and damaging no matter the form it takes. It therefore behoves everyone to join the campaign to reduce the carnage on our roads. May the souls of those who died in the latest accident, rest in peace. And may the good Lord comfort their families and loved ones.

BY: BUBU KLINOGO, A JOURNALIST.