The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan, is worried about the increasing number of road accidents in the region. He said the recorded number of road crushes in the area is frightening, therefore, urging residents of the Tamale metropolis and its adjoining areas to develop the habit of wearing crush helmets, seatbelts and other protective and safety gears whenever they are driving or riding on the road.
Addressing the Muslim community in Tamale during the Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the Jubilee Park, Tuesday (20 July, 2021), the Minister said the youth would make meaningful contributions to national development in diverse ways when they remain alive and safe, adding that, “We need to stay alive to be able to worship Allah, and healthy to observe the good practices in Islam.”
He, therefore, cautioned the young generation to always be cautious of the various rules and regulations bothering road safety in order to curb the rampant carnage on the road.
Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu indicated the teaching of Islam frown on lawlessness, stressing that, “It is not Islamic violating road traffic rules and regulations, i.e, crossing where the traffic light is amber or red.”
Provisional data available to THE CUSTODIAN from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) in the northern region indicates from January to June, 2021, a total of 92 road accidents were reported involving 160 vehicles.
The figure included 60 motorcycles, 42 private and 58 commercial vehicles and 151 people sustained various degrees of injuries.
Eleven pedestrians were knocked down within the period out which five people lost their lives as a result. This means the northern region recorded a total of 31 fatalities in the first half of 2021.
More so, data from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service shows a total of 1,250 people have lost their lives across the country through road accidents from January to May 2021.
The MTTD figures also show that 216 persons have died and 1,309 sustained various degrees of injuries in the month of May 2021, representing a 26.72 percent rise from last year’s data.
