80% of Kumasi drivers are unlettered -MTTD Commander 

The high numbers of road crashes in Kumasi and its environs have been attributed chiefly to human errors, because most of the drivers are illiterate.

Supt. Emmanuel Kwame Boadi, the Ashanti Regional MTTD Commander, explained that the drivers lack proper education.

According to him, about 80% of drivers in Kumasi have never attended a driving school or got proper formal education before jumping into the driving profession, adding that most of them are from washing bays, while some were driver’s mates, thus contributing to the many accidents on our roads and resulting in the loss of many lives.

Speaking at a Commercial Driver’s Education and Health Screening project dubbed: ‘Fit2Drive’, organised by Vivo Energy Ghana, in partnership with National Road Safety Authority, Supt. Boadi said about 90% of the accidents that occur on the roads are human errors and stressed the need for every driver to understand the rules and regulations guiding driving and the transport system.

He disclosed that the police are currently using technological devices to check speed and over speeding on the roads.

ADO1 Christian Opoku Ohemen, Ashanti Regional Headquarters Safety Department, reminded drivers to be cautious about Heat, Fuel and Oxygen, which are combustible.

He tasked them to always think of the three elements and ensure that they do not hide Fire Extinguishers in their car boots.

He advised them to, at least, have one fire personnel as a friend to approach when the need arises, especially where their landline is not responding to emergency calls.

Madam Shirley Tony Kum, Corporate Communications Manager (Vivo Energy Ghana Shell License), explained that Vivo Energy markets and distributes industrial branded fuel and liquid brands in Ghana.

According to her, over the years they have initiated programmes, including the ‘Fit2Drive’, which is tailored to drivers’ education and wellness and which seeks to educate drivers on good safety behaviours to promote their wellbeing.

She disclosed that this year, the Fit2Drive is targeting over 1,000 commercial drivers across five regions, which includes Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, Eastern and Bono East regions.

She indicated that other stakeholders that play a role in the transport sector like the Ghana Police Service, Fire Service, DVLA, National Insurance Commission (NIC) also participated in the exercise.

Madam Kum revealed that the health screening exercise aimed at checking the health status of the commercial drivers, for the fact that drivers are so busy they do not get time for proper check-ups and as humans Vivo Energy Ghana prioritises their commitment to the health status regularly.

She noted that as a company, they make it a commitment every year to organise Fit2Drive for the commercial drivers to ensure that the wellness of the drivers is prioritised in their daily activities.

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