Minister For Transport, DVLA & NRSC Wake Up!!!

I arrived in Ghana from the US just before the elections so I could cast my vote. As a safety and security expert based in the US, I was concerned about the happenings in my country and decided to take some time off my busy schedule to observe and advise on safety and security in the country.

I was surprised that despite my article a couple of years ago about the security implications of not using a highly reflective and securitized vehicle license plate, there were still a good number of plates being manufactured in Ghana, with very low standard reflective sheet from China.

In that article, I stated that your vehicle license plate is as important as your passport and practically speaking is even more important when it comes to security issues. I refuse to be tempted to go into that again. But our authorities have to be up to speed with security issues around the world.

I was delighted to see that Ghana has made a tremendous improvement in the area of safety by the introduction of the retro reflective tapes on vehicles. My investigations during my stay revealed that, that project is actually backed by law.

Let me take this opportunity to commend the DVLA and NRSC on embarking on such an important project.

The use of retro reflective tapes on vehicles has proven without a shadow of doubt to reduce accidents especially accidents at night.

However, what I found worrying and that is my reason for writing this article is the fact that enforcement has not been effective and now there also seem to be some low quality ones coming on to the market. Such a laudable program first of all needs intensive public education and after that, maximum enforcement. I always ask myself, why Africa is so good at making good laws but very bad at implementing them.

On the area of enforcement, I would appreciate if the Minister of Transport can work closely with the MTTU to ensure maximum enforcement. I know how stubborn human beings are when it comes to parting away with money even if they know this can save their lives. That is why sometimes the state must protect a citizen from destroying his own life.

These retro reflective tapes have saved so many lives all over the world and I know that many people including prominent statesmen would not have lost their lives through accidents if this law had been passed and enforced a long time ago.

My second concern has to do with the introduction on to the market of low quality retro reflective tapes in recent times. When I spoke with some driver's union leaders and members in some parts of Accra and Kumasi, I was surprised that they felt powerless in complaining to the government.

They said, they were happy with the project and accepted it wholeheartedly because they realized how this could save their lives and investment and admired the reflectivity of the tapes from afar.

They put the blame on the DVLA and NRSC for allowing some business men to start bringing in low quality ones after a successful introduction of the good tapes. They claim, ones the tape has the DVLA and NRSC logo on them, they cannot reject it because it means the product has been certified by these authorities who are there to protect them. My investigations revealed that the retro reflective tapes that first came on the market were from the US and the low quality ones are from China.

I ask myself, is the DVLA and NRSC aware that some authorized dealers are now selling low and inferior products to the unsuspecting public? If yes, then why have they kept quiet? Or is it because they have compromised their integrity somewhere? Are these 2 institutions aware that the drivers unions can take them to court for short changing them?

The irony according to the drivers I interviewed was that, both the cheap one and the quality ones are selling at the same price. This means if you are not lucky, you could get less value for your money. What surprises me is that these 2 institutions have monitoring and evaluation units, paid with the tax payer's money.

I was happy that some of the unions said, they were waiting for the elections to be over so they would embark on a demonstration to the ministry of transport to express their grievances.

Mr Minister of Transport, I entreat your good office to open your eyes and protect the drivers and vehicle owners, especially the commercial drivers from exploitation by unscrupulous business men.

KWAKU BONSU
SAFETY & SECURITY EXPERT (OHIO, USA)