ROAD SAFETY WEEK CELEBRATION LAUNCHED

Ghana Road Safety Commission has launched this year’s week celebration in Accra. The celebration which started in the year 2005 is to create greater awareness for social challenges responsible for loss of hardworking individuals and compatriots who symbolized hope for friends, family and country .The Theme for this years celebration is “ Ensuring an accident free election 2008”. This year’s celebration is focused on the view to inform politicians, policy makers and the general public. At the launch the Executive Director of the National Road Safety Commission Mr. Noble John Appiah said his outfit expected political leaders to demonstrate immense support and commitment through their actions, pronouncements on political platforms and particularly their strategic vision for road safety. “Road traffic deaths and injuries are undoubtedly a major development challenge in the country killing many people and affecting thousands of homes”. He appealed to stakeholders involved in road safety to rise up to their duty by showing commitment and hard work in other not to make it a crisis for the country. “It is important to have critical mass of stakeholders who have passion to implement measures that will lead to the reduction and prevention of road accident in our country”. Mr. Appiah retreated that road safety was a share responsibility and therefore it was import for everyone to play its role in advocating and embracing positive road user behavior coupled with good resource allocation and demanding road safety from political leaders and statutory agencies. The Deputy Minister for Transportation Opare Asamoah said the theme of the celebration is expected to create and heighten road safety awareness throughout the election period. Outlining some of the tragic crash statistic in Ghana he said four persons are killed daily,1,600 die annually ,8000 people suffer serious injuries, 70% of accident victims are males and 60% of crash victims fall within the productive ages of 18 to 55.He further added that, economically, the cost of medical bills, loss of productivity,pain,suffering among others are estimated about $160million representing 1.6% of the gross domestic product 2006. Mr. Asamaoh promised his ministries continuous support to the commission to carry out its mandate The Communications Manager of the commission Mr. Kwame Attuahene who read the slated programme for the celebration said, a forum would be held for religious leaders , followed by prayers at the mosque and will be climaxed with a road safety walk witnessing the president John Agyekum Kufour.All these activities will be held simultaneously across the various regions of the country. He called on corporate organizations to emulate the sponsors of this years celebration instant Indomi noodles to help the commission in its day to day activities.