Guinness Ghana road safety campaign reaches 2,000 drivers, reduces drink driving cases

Over 2,000 commercial drivers across 7 transport terminals participated in Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd (GGBL) Twa Kwano Mmom Don't Drink and Drive campaign over the Christmas and New Year period.

Twa Kwano Mmom (Twi abbreviation for Don't Drink and Drive, go the distance instead) is a carefully designed integrated campaign comprising education on the effect of alcohol and dangers of drink driving, a voluntary alcohol breathalyser testing at the point of exit for drivers to prevent drink driving and a scheme to reward drivers who act responsibly and do not engage in drink driving.

The campaign launched in December 2014 ended with an official closing ceremony on Tuesday 16 January 2015 at the Achimota New Transport Terminal where deserving drivers were rewarded with fuel coupons.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Preba Greenstreet, Corporate Relations Director, GGBL said "we have significantly expanded the scope of Twa Kwano Mmom since the inception of the campaign two years ago. Overall more than 2,000 commercial drivers across 7 transport terminals participated in the programme and boldly signed a pledge not to engage in drink driving.  Today we're celebrating these drivers for their exemplary behaviour."

"The results from the alcohol breath-analyser tests conducted over the period reveals that increasingly drivers are becoming more aware and are taking personal responsibility, challenging their fellow drivers not to engage in drink driving. For instance from the 9,700 breathalyser tests conducted in the first 4 weeks of the campaign, only 17 drivers representing 0.17% recorded breath alcohol concentration (BAC) above 0.08 and were sanctioned by their Union executives but as the campaign peaked from the 4th to the 6th week, the over 11,000 breathalyser tests conducted revealed BAC levels of 0.00 meaning not a single one of them had attempted to drink and drive", she added.

She said the results demonstrates that Guinness Ghana's commitment and investment to prevent drink driving in line with the CEO's commitment is yielding positive results.

The Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Mr. Daniel Wuaku said he was impressed by the outstanding results the campaign has achieved over the past 6 weeks.

" I would like to commend GGBL for staying true to this cause and for their continuous commitment to supporting the NRSC's effort at ensuring safety on our roads. We have collaborated with GGBL on several campaigns over the last decade but this is arguably the most impactful programme aimed at not only educating drivers on the dangers of drink driving and general road safety but goes beyond that to institute an alcohol breath testing mechanism that ensures that drivers who drink are not allowed to drive out of their terminal – therefore ensuring passenger and other road users' safety. We will continue to support such initiatives”, said Mr. Wuaku.

The Twa Kwano Mmom campaign was activated across 7 transport terminals – Achimota, Tudu, Kaneshie and Ashaiman stations in the Greater Accra region, Kejetia and Asafo in the Ashanti region and Tantrie station in the Central region. Overall 375 drivers were rewarded with fuel coupons worth GHC 50.

The campaign is part of GGBL's holistic alcohol in society programme which seeks to promote responsible alcohol use and to reduce alcohol abuse and misuse.

The campaign was partnered by GIZ, Japan Motors University of Ghana Medical School, the National Road Safety Commission and the Ghana Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department.