Parliament Invites Transport Min. Over Rising Road Accidents

Parliament has summoned Transport Minister Kweku Ofori Asiamah to brief the House on measures being taken by the government to reduce road accidents and fatalities associated with such accidents.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, who presided over the business of the house on Tuesday, 6 November 2018, said the minister was to appear in two weeks’ time.

The decision follows a statement from Ledzorkuku Mp Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye on avoidable road traffic accidents. The Mp in the statement called for aggressive prosecution of careless drivers. He related to recent accidents including that of colleague Mp for Awutu Senya West and deputy communications minister George Andah, who was airlifted to 37 military hospital for emergency care, following an accident in the Central region.

Another accident was recorded in the same region Monday which claimed 6 lives. Adaklu Mp Kwame Agbodza Governs asked for establishment of air ambulance services so ordinary Ghanaians can also benefit from the services rendered to the deputy Communications minister after his accident.

Some three people also died and several others got injured in an accident involving five cars at Ofankor on the Accra – Nsawam road on Monday, 5 November.

Pusiga Laadi Ayamba questioned why the construction of footbridges on the Madina Adenta stretch of the N1 highway has stalled for years now resulting needless deaths. MP for the Adentan constituency Yaw Buaben Asamoah in his contribution pointed the entire road project was poorly executed.

According to him, the road floods every time it rains. He also pointed to faulty traffic lights. Mr. Asamoah disclosed the 6 footbridges on the stretch should have been completed as part of the entire project. He therefore demanded investigations into the reasons for the stalling of the project. For his part Mp for Madina Boniface Abu-bakar Saddique accused drivers plying the road of being insensitive.

Explaining further, he indicated that the delay in completion of the footbridges has claimed at least 192 lives which according to him, could be avoided. The most resident pedestrian knockdown on the road sparked spontaneous protests by residents which led to roadblocks.