News:
July 21, 2017
The honorable Member of Parliament for the Nsawam-Adoagyiri constituency, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has questioned the Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamahon why the implementation of the controversial Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L. I. 2180) has been put on hold.
He expressed worrying concerns about the increasing rate of accidents on our roads hence the need the implementation of the LI to help curb accident cases.
The lawmaker urged the Parliament Select Committee on Roads and Transport to expedite action on its work of advice on the implementation of LI.
Responding to the members question on the floor of Parliament, Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah said his office is awaiting a report from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Transport to take action on the implementation of the controversial Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L. I. 2180).
The Committee`s report he noted, will help the ministry to address the concerns raised by the public when the implementation the Regulation was due.
In July 2012, Parliament passed the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L. I. 2180) for the provision of ambulance services, road marking services and the towing of disabled and abandoned vehicles on the country’s various road networks.
Following the passage, an agreement was reached between the government acting through the Road Safety Commission (RSC) and the Road Safety Management Services Limited to carry out the implementation of towing the disabled and abandoned vehicles at a cost to vehicle owners and motorcyclists.
However, the implementation was greeted with public outcry about the outrageous amount being charged.
The major concern was that the amount being charged for the towing of the disabled and abandoned vehicles was too outrageous.
This, the Minister stated informed the decision to hold the implementation of the LI for further consultation with stakeholders.
“Mr. Speaker, when we got the issue of communication, it appeared that the education did not go down well with the public, hence, the various concerns raised by the public for us to put on hold the implementation of the service.
To address the concerns of the public, I directed that the national road safety commission to withhold the implementation to allow for proper consultation of the general public.
As part of the consultation we have engaged the various stakeholders as well as the Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport. We have also met various stakeholders including transport owners, operators, the media the civil society. I am therefore awaiting the report of the Parliamentary Select Committee to help me address the problem,” he noted.
By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com