IGP calls for establishment of riding schools

As part of the current nationwide road safety campaign being embarked on by the Ghana Police Service to reduce the high number of lives lost through avoidable road crashes, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Paul Quaye, has called for the establishment of Motor Riding Schools in the Upper East Region.

Addressing senior and junior police officers at the forecourt of the Regional Police Headquarters in Bolgatanga, the IGP stated that “for stakeholders in the Northern, Upper East and West regions, where the use of motorcycles is predominant, there is the urgent need to establish Motor Riding Schools that will inculcate riding ethics and skills, and other road safety requirements in the riders.”

Mr. Quaye observed that a larger number of motor riders grew up learning riding skills on their own without any formal orientation. Thus, he said, the riders may be skillful, but their knowledge of defensive riding, and related road safety requirements were very limited.

He, therefore, directed the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP)/Mr. Bright Oduro, to liaise with accredited driving schools to add riding lessons to their training to give prospective riders the opportunity to learn professional riding.

Ghana’s national accident statistics in 2011 indicated a total of 13,572 accidents were recorded. A total of 2,330 deaths were recorded from these accidents, and a much larger number, totaling 13,272 persons, were seriously injured, with many of them maimed for life.

In the Upper East Region, statistics available at the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service revealed that between January and May this year, road crashes had claimed 33 lives. The crashes involved 70 vehicles and 33 motorbikes.

Within the same period in 2011, records show that the region recorded 177 crashes. Out of the number, 108 vehicles and 55 motorcycles were involved. The total number of deaths recorded stood at 55.

Although comparatively the figures this year were lower than last year’s, the Pegional Police Commander described the situation as unacceptable, and called for public education in collaboration with stakeholders.

The IGP later visited Bawku to familiarise himself with security matters, and also to get firsthand information on their challenges.

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