Open letter to Noble Appiah, Chief Executive, DVLA
I was very glad when I read about your appointment. I was pleased that such a consummate professional has been given the task of sorting out a challenge that presented itself to you when you were in charge of road safety. The job can be a poison chalice if you choose to do it according to the dictates of politicians or fulfilling if you are determined to move Ghana out of the league of countries who 'murder' their citizens on the roads. Congratulations!
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We met almost 15 years ago when the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) chose the theme 'Carnage on our roads' for its public lecture. The lectures went very well and GMA paid for the four page centre of the Daily Graphic to publish the presentations. I became a crusader on road accidents and have kept active in that space till now.
I am in a position to name Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), as an accomplice to all deaths, in fact 'murders' on our roads. A few days ago I interviewed drivers for appointment in an institution and was surprised at the lack of knowledge of road signs and speed limits in built-up places and distances between vehicles at different speed rates and weather conditions from persons who have licences and are driving on our roads.
Persons who are drivers of commercial vehicles that unsuspecting Ghanaians have no choice of because they have no other way of assessing their knowledge. Such drivers have been approved by the Ghana Private Road and transport Union (GPRTU), PROTOA and other driver unions and operate from their recognised terminals. How such people obtained their licences is common knowledge. Despite the examinations, people who have had no education get licences. The staff of DVLA still collect monies and give people who should not be on our roads licences to kill unashamedly.
The roadworthiness examinations conducted in your centres are skipped completely or are done in a half hearted manner if you are prepared to pay. Many vehicles do not go there at all but are supplied with the certificates. The vehicles with appropriate road worthiness certificates have been given the right of passage on our roads even though they were not seen or thoroughly examined. Again, particularly with respect to commercial vehicles, Ghanaians will board such vehicles believing that they are safe with the seal of approval of DVLA.
Driver, vehicle and road factors
The belief has always been that for road traffic accidents, there is a driver factor, a vehicle factor and of course a road factor. DVLA is involved in the first two through driver proficiency, licensing and eye testing and the vehicular factor that includes examining the brakes, clutch, lights, traffic indicator, wipers and everything else that must be tested. DVLA is not involved in road construction but must have a say in the type of road furnishings and the unusually large central divides that permit street hawkers from making stalls.
Driver education, the use of alcohol and narcotics and the mental state of the drivers, the number of hours on the road, the lack of rest are all issues that the DVLA must be actively crusading on but oh no, the staff are busy making money for themselves. What I do not know is whether there is a share out as it is alledged in some of the security agencies. I hope not and I believe if it is a practice it shall be abolished.
The use of mobile phones by taxi and trotro or troski drivers is one thing that gets to me. Innocent Ghanaians sit in such vehicles and do not tell the driver not to be using his phone while driving. The drivers do not value the lives of those they transport and the fear of being insulted by the driver if anybody criticises is perhaps what keeps many quiet but if the secret of life to borrow from Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah's words, is to have no fear then it is important people speak out. If the police are not ready to tackle the issue with respect to all drivers, they can start with commercial drivers.
Annual assessment of commercial drivers
Ghana's unenviable record of road traffic accidents must be confronted frontally. All commercial drivers must have an annual assessment of their status before being considered fit to drive and this must be without reservations. I can immediately see the driver unions in arms crying about unfair treatment but the level of casualties when one of them is involved in an accident and its overall toll on society in unimaginable.
Commercial vehicles must have a twice-a-year roadworthiness examination. All such vehicles in addition must have a daily station check before each of the vehicles sets off. There must be an order for loading which must be approved and duly followed to prevent overspeeding to get the next available load. Unless otherwise approved, however faster you get to the station, the order of loading will have to be followed.
It is unfair that we all have to travel to the beyonds for the road worthiness examinations. Any attempts to complicate the process plays into the hands of those who are eager to cheat the system. Many workshops with some minimal standards can be approved to provide the service on behalf of the DVLA on an agreed revenue share in all the regions and districts of Ghana. This opportunity will ease the pressure and decrease the desire to cheat to make money. If an approved workshop misconducts itself, the privileges shall be withdrawn. Vehicles that break down on the streets will be pulled off the road as soon as practicable but will be linked to the workshop where the road worthiness examination was done and points deducted as a disincentive for poor performance.
The role of DVLA in the carnage on our roads must be properly defined and worked on vigorously to decrease or diminish the significance. Your role in the road safety campaign has more than prepared you for this task. It is a task that you must succeed to give further credence to your role and importance in road safety. The counting will start from the dawn of the New Year and we shall compare this with your time with the Road Safety Commission.
I will be routing for you to succeed beyond anybody's wildest dreams and by so doing Ghana can move up respectably on the league of murderous nations. Last but not least please act on the Anas' report and sack all those who have the blood of the many Ghanaians who have died because of fake or inappropriate licences and road worthiness certificates. Deal with the middlemen or 'goro' boys as they are called and arrest those in the business of providing fake everything. Best wishes to you, Noble Appiah.