‘Train mechanics to reduce accidents’

A Consultant for the Ghana National Association of Garages (GNAG) in the Ashanti Region, Mr Richard Boadi Soadwa, has called for the continuous training of mechanics to stem the increasing rate of accidents on the road.

He explained that apart from equipping the mechanics with new technologies in the automobile industry, such continuous training would put them in good stead to identify and address defective systems of vehicles brought to them for repairs.

  Zone 16
Mr Soadwa was addressing the opening ceremony of a 10-day training programme for members of Zone 16 Asafo Division of the GNAG at Asafo in Kumasi yesterday.

The programme, dubbed, “Capacity Development in Occupational Health and Safety Management”, is being organised by Logeist International- Ghana and is under the auspices of the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET).

  New technology
Mr Soadwa noted that most of the mechanics were trained when the current technology in the automobile industry had not been introduced, hence the need to educate them on the new technology.

He said it was to address these two-pronged challenges- reduce accidents and increase the revenue of mechanics- that the programme was organised, and urged the participants to take such continuous training seriously and apply the knowledge acquired.

  Chairman
The Zone 16 Chairman, Mr Collins Owusu-Ansah, noted that his members were ready for any training that would help them to be abreast of the changes in the automobile industry so that they would not be found wanting in dealing with new vehicles.

The Regional Chairman of GNAG, Mr Osei Bonsu, assured members that his administration had instituted measures to build the capacity of members, broaden their knowledge and ensure that they were computer literate.

He said currently, the leadership of the association had built a website and the particulars of all qualified members would soon be loaded on the website as a means of exposing their wealth of experience and know-how to the entire world.