The Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) has identified transportation-related incidents as a leading cause of casualties in the country.
According to BPS, 41% of deaths recorded in the country, among ten indicators, from January to June 2019 was through transportation.
“Transportation remains the leading cause of death among the ten indicators of public safety and crime monitored. It accounts for over 41% of the deaths reported from January to June 2019,” BPS stated in its report.
The report broadly categorized public safety events under crime, violent crime, fire and industrial/workplace-related incidents, transportation-related incidents, civil disturbances, police officer casualties, police brutalities, police arrests, natural disasters, and general Incidents.
BPS stated in its report that, 65% of all vehicles involved in all road crashes were commercial vehicles (excluding motorbikes).
“Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) and Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) accounted for 37% of all vehicles involved in various road crash events. The contribution of a spot fine regime in improving the safety and security on our roads cannot be overemphasized. Government has not shown tangible commitment to reducing the carnage on the roads as the Spot Fine system continues to be only matter of discussion in the last decade.”
The BPS acknowledged recent efforts initiated by Citi TV/FM in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service to reduce indiscipline on the roads but urged the MTTD “to establish and own a sustained institutional campaign to enforce basic road laws across Ghana in order to achieve any meaningful gains in curbing road crashes.”
Gov’t makes GHc258,000 from Citi TV’s War Against Indiscipline campaign
The War Against Indiscipline campaign was started by Citi TV in May 2019 and has received support from the public and civil society so far.
The campaign aims to avert the increasing loss of lives through road carnage due to recklessness and general disregard for traffic regulations.
The campaign has seen the state benefit from GH¢258,000 in fines.
Almost 500 drivers have been arrested for breaching traffic regulations on various roads in Accra.
More on the Report
The Ghana Public Safety and Crime report also known as the BPS WATCH is an initiative by the Bureau of Public Safety towards providing information to the general public, policymakers, and law enforcement.
“For the first half of 2019, the top three most frequently reported public safety events were crime, violent crime, and civil disturbances with 32%, 32% and 9% respectively of all cases reported,” the report stated.
Click here for the full report:
