The president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Ghana, Mr. Ebo Hammond has observed that lack of effective monitoring and evaluation of the road transport sector has contributed to reckless driving and rickety cars resulting in rampant road crashes killing dozens of people daily.
He said these frequent accidents on the roads could be addressed through effective monitoring and evaluation of the road transport sector.
“Let’s all of us help address this problem,” he said.
Ebo Hammond also appealed to government especially stakeholders in the transport sector to institute pragmatic measures to help reduce the rising levels of road accidents especially by motorcycles.
He said: “As we seek to modernise the road transport system in the country, we should be mindful of the fact that motorcycle commercialisation. For instance ‘Okada’ should not be part of any urban transport system as it is not sustainable.”
According to Mr. Hammond, the ministry of Transport should also resist any pressure to legalise its operations on the reason for its provision for operators which pale into insignificance when compared to the rising fatalities it is causing.
He also asked the ministry of transport not to bow to pressure from any quarters and spoke strongly against the legalisation and commercialisation of ‘Okada’ as it has increased carnage on the roads in recent times.
He said this in an interview with some journalists at a capacity training workshop organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT -ghana) for monitoring and evaluation officers of the ministry of transport in Accra.
He added that “Any job that inherently kills its employees is not the job for the future.”
He however commended government’s efforts at establishing a body with the hope of improving road traffic system in the country, saying “We have noted that the government is already on course with a bill to establish such a body which we hope will help sanitise the chaotic road traffic system in the country.”
He emphasised the need for transport operators, unions etc. to abide by regulations governing their operations to help minimise road accidents.
“How many times have you heard of a plane crash in Ghana, and how many people can you say have also died through a plane crash in Ghana,” he quizzed.
Mr. Hammond further indicated that the workshop among other things will enhance the knowledge of participants to be able to work towards assisting government in achieving efficient and effective transport system for the socio economic development of the country.
BY PROSPER AGBENYEGA