Police to arrest alcoholic beverage sellers ...

..at lorry stations Accra, Oct. 19, GNA - The Ghana Police Service would begin to arrest persons who sell alcoholic beverages at lorry stations, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr. Jonathan Yakubu said on Wednesday. The Police Service noted that people who had been granted permit to sell non-alcoholic beverages were abusing their permits by way of adding alcoholic beverages to their stock.

ACP Yakubu, who was addressing executives of drivers' unions of the Neoplan Station in Accra said if the practice were halted it would discourage most drivers from drinking. The meeting organised by the Ghana Police Service was to solicit views from various drivers' unions on ways of reducing the spate of road accidents.

ACP Yakubu told the drivers that it was an offence to sell alcoholic products at the various lorry stations. He said the police were ready to assist the various unions through education and urged them to take time off their busy schedules in order to be educated on the new Road and Traffic Act and their responsibilities as driving.

ACP Yakubu observed that some drivers were conniving with some robbers to carry out their acts saying the Police Administration would not relent in its war on armed robbery.

"Some drivers have used their vehicles in robbing people on the highways and residence and are facilitating smuggling along the country's frontiers and within," he added. ACP Yakubu said the drivers should not jubilate over the reduction of police barriers adding, "we will soon come on the roads as soon as we notice that you are not doing the right things." He explained that the reduction of the barriers was because of public outcry on its inconvenience.

"Most of the risks on our roads when travelling can be prevented by their union executives through various checks."

According to ACP Yakubu the union executives could check on the state of vehicles, licences, cargo and luggage. He observed that some drivers had medical problems and advised them to undergo medical examination or approach the Ministry of Health to examine their members intermittently.

Mr Agyeman Danso, a member of the Accra-Kumasi Cargo/Container Union, noted that some untrained drivers were contributing to the spate of accidents.

Mr Danso noted that most some roads lacked signs and appealed to the authorities to assist in that direction. He welcomed the decision to arrest those who sold alcoholic beverages at the station saying the practice would bring sanity in the driving profession.