Six die in motor accidents at Xmas
Six persons were killed in motor accidents in the Greater Accra Region during the festive period between December 20 and December 26, 2014.
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The deceased were made up of five males above 18 years and one female below 18 years.
A total of 129 accidents, involving 196 vehicles — 86 commercial, 96 private and 13 motorbikes — were reported during the period.
Thirty people were also said to have sustained serious injuries, while 23 pedestrians were knocked down by vehicles during the period.
The Commander of the Accra Central Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), Chief Superintendent Anderson Ofusu-Ackaah, told the Daily Graphic that the Airport Police District recorded the highest number of accidents of 29, followed by Odorkor with 28; Tesano, 23, and Madina, 17.
He stated that within the same period in 2013, six people, including a female, were killed in 130 motor accidents.
Those accidents involved 235 vehicles, comprising 106 commercial and 109 private, adding that 30 people sustained serious injuries, while 94 sustained minor injuries.
Private vehicles
Chief Supt Ofusu-Ackaah said this year’s accidents were due to speeding, drink-driving, lack of vehicle maintenance and fatigue.
He said he was worried over the increasing involvement of private vehicles in accidents and blamed owners for not showing interest in public safety awareness programmes organised by the police.
“Over the years, owners of private vehicles have consistently declined to be part of the various public road safety education programmes organised by the police for the public,” he said.
He, therefore, appealed to them to patronise road safety awareness programmes by the police to ensure sanctity on the roads.
