Accidents: President Mills calls for swift action

President John Evans Atta Mills has called for immediate action to check the recent spate of road accidents in the country.

In pursuance of this, the president has called for a meeting between officials of the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU), the National Road Safety Commission and other stakeholders in the transport industry to discuss possible solutions.

Presidential spokesperson Mahama Ayariga disclosed this to Joy News when the president paid a visit to victims of recent accidents admitted to the 37 Military Hospital to empathize with them.

He noted that the president is worried about the frequency of accidents in the country lately.

Four separate road accidents have claimed over thirty lives while scores of others are in critical condition.

At least 15 lives are reported to have perished when a fuel tanker exploded at the Winneba Junction in the Central Region. The accident recorded 34 casualties with doctors warning the death toll could rise.

Another accident at Apedwa Afroso in the Eastern Region is said to have claimed another 11 lives when a Tico car attempted to overtake an articulated truck loaded with chlorine sulphate.

The truck driver is reported to have lost control of the steering and in the process clashed head-on with a Benz 207 passenger vehicle with registration number GR 611 N which had been moving in the opposite direction.

Some eight persons are also said to have perished in a similar accident at Swedru also in the Central Region.

Eye witnesses described the scene as gory.
Also present at the 37 Military Hospital was the Minister of Health George Sippah Yankey.

The minister thanked doctors at the military hospital for their prompt response when the victims were admitted to the hospital.

Story by Fiifi Koomson