More than 1,000 lives lost between January and September, this year

The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service has indicated that over one thousand people have lost their lives in road traffic accident between January and September, this year.

According to the report, one thousand five hundred and eight (1,508) people lost their lives in just nine months.

It also indicated that 10,197 people were injured in 2019, involving 7, 138 vehicles.

The Staff Officer to the Director-General of the MTTD, Supt. Dr Sasu Mensah made this known at the 5th Biennial National Safety Conference in Accra.

Recounting the offences committed on the roads that might have led to this figure, Dr. Mensah noted that several vehicles checked by the task force between December 2017 and April 2018 recorded offences ranging from driving beyond legal alcohol limit, not wearing seat belt, driving without licence and using worn-out tyres.

He said out of 1,600 vehicles checked during the period, 182 cases were processed for court with 105 people convicted.

He, however, noted that in comparing last year figures, this year is slightly lower.

Last year, 1,710 people died in 10,051 crashes involving 7,138 vehicles.

Dr Mensah is assuring the general public that the police service was determined to enforce the laws on road traffic to help prevent accidents.

Meanwhile, he urged the media to use their medium to raise awareness, adding that will go a long way to reduce mortalities and gain greater public support for stricter enforcement.

The 5th Biennial National Safety Conference was organised by the Bureau of Public Safety (BPS) in collaboration with the Department of Factories Inspectorate.

The event provided a platform to discuss occupational safety, security, health and environmental hazards in the country.

This year’s event, which focused on transport, was on the theme: “Transportation Safety and Security: Strengthening Institutions, Research and Training towards a Sustainable Development.”