By King Amoah
The Kumasi Sofoline Super branch chairman of the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU), Mr. Albert Kwasi Boamah, has attributed the country’s persistent road accidents to the lack of enforcement of regulations surrounding Transport Operational Permits.
He argues that the authorities’ failure to ensure compliance with the licensing criteria for Transport Unions has created a breeding ground for lawlessness and contributed significantly to road fatalities.
Mr. Boamah highlighted the existing regulations that categorize Transport Unions based on their operation, including tourism, commercial, city, international, and harbor operations.
These categories, he explained, each have specific operational criteria and licensing requirements for affiliated drivers.
“However,” he lamented, “these laws have been violated to the extent that many transport unions now operate as commercial entities, mirroring the functions of the GPRTU.
Nobody monitors their operations or scrutinizes the qualifications of their drivers, creating the impression that there are no regulations governing the transport sector.”
He further criticized the previous government’s decision to limit police checks on highways, arguing that this led to drivers engaging in reckless driving without fear of consequence.
The consequence, he says, is a reduction in punishment for recalcitrant drivers.
Drawing a comparison to the era when Mr. Collins Dauda served as Minister of Transport, during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) regime, Mr. Boamah asserted that road accident rates were lower due to the effective implementation of transport regulations.
He questioned why Ghana is now recording alarming road fatalities.
Expressing his dismay at the widespread lawlessness within the transport sector and the lack of decisive action against offenders, Mr. Boamah proposed a two-pronged solution to curb the growing menace of road accidents.
Firstly, he urged for the rigorous enforcement of regulations concerning license acquisition and operational permits for Transport Unions.
Secondly, he advocated for empowering the police to conduct highway checks across the country.
“These measures,” Mr. Boamah concluded, “would go a long way to curb road fatalities in the country.” He believes that stricter enforcement of existing regulations and increased police presence on the roads are crucial steps towards restoring order and safety to Ghana’s transport sector.
