Upper West GPRTU cautions against careless driving

Mr. Nuhu Mahama, Upper West Regional Industrial Relations Officer of Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) on Sunday warned that drivers who drive without functioning brakes and lights in the night would be arrested and be made to face the full rigours of the law.

"Those who also drive under the influence of alcohol and overload their vehicles would be punished severely for risking with human lives."

Mr. Mahama, who gave this warning in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Wa on frequent accidents in the region said a fatal accident occurred at Yipala near Tuna in the Sawla-Kalba-Tuna district on Christmas day involving a Kumasi bound Neoplan bus and a KIA pick because the KIA vehicle had only one headlamp.

The IRO said vehicles without lights in the night were not only nuisance to other vehicles, but also to pedestrians as they mostly take such vehicles for motorbikes.

Mr. Mahama appealed to the Police and other security Agencies in the region to arrest any GPRTU driver who used a vehicle without light, so as to serve as deterrent to other people.

"In their bid to maximize profit, they must also ensure the safety of every human being they carry. Without such human beings, they would not be able to make any good living," he added.

He also cautioned drivers against excessive speeding on the untarred portion of the Wa-Kumasi road as a result of poor visibility particularly in the night.

"Both government, groups and individuals spend so much on road accident related cases and we cannot develop if we have to continue using our few resources nursing wounds in our areas". He concluded.