WR MTTD to step up security in the festive season

The Western Regional Branch of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service has pledged to step up security and safety for commuters and motorists during the yuletide.

The Department would also enforce and arrest and prosecute offenders to deal with the increasing level of indiscipline on the road.

Chief Superintendent Isaac Kwasi Sorkpah, the Regional MTTD Commander, told the Ghana News Agency that the Region would also deploy more personnel to increase effective patrols both on foot and mobile.

He said most cities within the period of the yuletide and the new year, witnessed high economic and commercial activities with drivers taking advantage of the situation without recourse to passenger and pedestrian safety, “road accidents resulting into loss of lives have become a perennial problem and we are leaving no stone unturned to change the narratives”.

Chief Superintendent Sorkpah said the Department was collaborating with other relevant stakeholders to also promote more education and sensitization.

He said there would be massive highway enforcement teams consisting of not less than five personnel to check overspeeding, drunk driving, authenticate roadworthy stickers, adding “We want to minimize any violation of the road traffic regulations”.

The Department, in an exercise, had removed more than 2000 unapproved lamps on both small and long vehicles and cautioned against the practice which had become an avenue for accidents on the road.

Chief Superintendent Sorkpah added that the Accident Prevention Squad had been created as part of strategies to reduce road traffic crashes, “the Squad has the mandate to monitor major accident-prone corridors and help reduce speed by the use of telematics devices.”

Some personnel would be deployed to the various traffic intersections during rush hours to ensure a free flow of traffic and improve upon security and safety of both motorists and commuters.

The Western Region, he said, had recorded 91 crashes as against 83 for the period between January and September last year.

He entreated all road users to be cautious during the festive season and observe all safety protocols on COVID-19 to avoid an upsurge in the pandemic.