A chosen group of Accra tricycle and motorcycle riders have received training on the value of personal safety, road safety, traffic laws, and best practices for reducing traffic and vehicle accidents.
The Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO), a youth-led advocacy group for waste management and climate change, organized a one-day training program at La-Dadekotopong Municipal Assembly in La-Accra with the goal of promoting safe driving and responsible riding habits.
More than 100 motorcycle and trike riders attended the session, which was organized by GAYO in partnership with KADA, a tricycle riders group. The subjects covered included defensive driving strategies, road safety advice, and the significance of wearing protective gear.
It was made possible by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and the Ghana Police Service.
After the workshop, the participants received certificates of participation and the knowledge they needed to enlighten their friends.
Justification
Speaking at the event, Mabel Naa Amorkor Laryea, the GAYO Project Coordinator for the Greater Accra Region, stated that the workshop was required due to the growing worry over the rising incidence of motorbike and tricycle-related traffic incidents in the area.
Although the “motorcycle and tricycle were more environmentally friendly with only 12% emission of greenhouse gases through the fossil fuel released compared to the other four-wheel vehicles,” she emphasized, “they have contributed to more deaths hence.”
In order to improve the quality of the air in the area, Ms. Layea noted that the workshop will assist the recipients in adhering to traffic laws and riding safely, which is one of the safest modes of transportation. She went on to say that GAYO would host an electric vehicle ride-in event as part of its drive to encourage the use of these vehicles and lessen the amount of air pollution caused by fossil fuels from non-electric vehicles.
The session provided a welcome chance for the riders to access their knowledge and fill in the gaps, according to Matthew Akambong, the Chief Executive Officer of KADA.
According to him, the majority of riders lack a license and are ignorant of the fundamentals of safe riding, road safety, and obtaining one; for this reason, the program must collaborate with GAYO to assist its members in learning new things and enhancing their skills.
ISSUES
Chief Superintendent Alexander Obeng, Director of Research, Education, and Training at the Police Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD), spoke to the attendees and emphasized the importance of riders paying attention to their speed, particularly in metropolitan areas.
“We encourage all riders to exercise caution and slow down, particularly in places with high pedestrian traffic, as speed is a significant factor in traffic incidents. In order to protect other pedestrians, passengers, and yourself, you should also become knowledgeable about traffic laws,” he said.
He said that the Police would shortly implement a nationwide initiative called Police Invisible Eyes Are Watching (PIEAW), which would monitor and apprehend traffic violators and provide the proper punishment.
“As an association, we have observed that many of our members are unaware of basic traffic rules and regulations, which frequently leads to accidents,” stated Mr. Kwame Owusu, President of KADA.
For his part, the Manager of the DVLA’s Training, Testing, and Licensing Department, John Asante Arhin, urged “riders to ensure that their vehicles were properly registered and licensed, as this was a critical aspect of road safety”.
He stated that the DVLA has now created a mobile service that allowed DVLA officials to travel to a specific site at the request of an association or a client to train and guide them through the license acquisition process.
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