The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) yesterday honoured the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Henry Quartey, for championing road safety in the region through the “Let’s make Accra work” campaign.
Notable among efforts that earned him the recognition was the sanity brought to the chaotic traffic situation at Madina Zongo Junction in Accra and the management of motorcycle and tricycle operations on all major roads.
At a brief ceremony, where a delegation from the NSRA presented a citation and an artistic portrait to the minister, the Authority declared its desire to work closely with him as a road safety champion to advance its work.
“The Authority reckons that your brainchild (Let’s Make Accra Work) … has indeed proven thus far, the most progressive in advocacy and improving road user behaviour.
“Your productive collaboration with related agencies, especially the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service in Accra, stands tall,” excerpts of the citation said.
The NRSA delegation, led by the Board Chair of the Authority, Jeremaine Nkrumah, included the Acting Director-General of the Authority, David Osafo Adonteng.
Mr Nkrumah said more capable hands were needed to promote road safety in the country given that about 16,000 new vehicles were registered each month although the roads were not being expanded.
He said with Accra being the capital of the country and hosting about 140 out of the 500 new vehicles registered every day, efforts needed to be doubled to reduce carnages.
He commended the Regional Minister for addressing the Madina Zongo situation and expressed hope that collaboration with the Authority would yield positive results.
Mr Adonteng said NSRA was concerned that despite several interventions, the country records about 2,000 accident annually with 2,924 recorded last year.
“This is not a good story to tell because we have over the years been educating people and running other campaigns to reduce the cases. That is why we need champions like the regional minister,” he said.
In response, Mr Quartey, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso Central, thanked the Authority for the recognition and attributed his successes to the support of the President, the Coordinating council, MPs and other stakeholders, including the media.
He said the moratorium given to tricycles after restrictions were placed on them from principal streets and highways had elapsed and that after the Easter celebrations, strict enforcement would begin.
He said the Regional Coordinating Council would collaborate with the security agencies, Trade Union Congress, Ghana Education Service to promote discipline at all levels, especially the motorway.
BY JONATHAN DONKOR
