Six died through motor traffic accidents during X'mas

Kumasi, Dec 29, GNA --Ashanti Region recorded six deaths through motor traffic accidents during the Christmas festivities, Chief Superintendent Augustine Gyening, the Regional Commander of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), told the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday.

Five of the fatalities occurred in the Kumasi Metropolis while the other took place at Obuasi. Sixteen people were injured in those accidents all of which happened in the night.

He said the injuries sustained were not life threatening and that they were responding to treatment.

Mr Gyening said three of them would be made to face criminal prosecution after their discharge from the hospital. The three had packed themselves on a motorbike that had no registration number and crashed it into a truck.

Chief Superintendent Gyening said looking at the efforts put in by the police it was unfortunate that those accidents happened. "I had put my men at all vantage points. We intensified road patrols and road checks and it had been my hope that there would be no accident during this year's Christmas period."

He said efforts at reducing the carnage on the roads would be unsuccessful unless drivers took road safety education more seriously whilst passengers did their part by reporting those who drive recklessly. 29 Dec 04