1. Dearth of Policy Innovation
I
Prosper Yao Tsikata, Msc.; M.A.;
M.S.; Ph.D. Student
2. Little Investment, Big Returns
• Ghana spends US$128 million on road
accidents annually, 1.6% of the country’s
GDP
• 16,000 people are killed and 15,000
seriously injured in these accidents
• Evidentially, accident rates are on the
ascendancy in Ghana
4. Why Accidents are Persistently High
• Over-speeding
• Overloading
• Non-observation of traffic rules
• Lack of effective and continued law
enforcement
• Non-standardized method of issuing driving
licenses and testing
• Alcohol and drug use
14. Personal Experience
• Paid US$820.00 in three months
• Attended Court once in Maryland
• That made me to become extra
careful or cautious on the road to
avoid the fines and withdrawal of my
license
15. Position on this Issue
• If it costs the Ghanaian Economy US$128
million or 1.6% of her GDP annually, it means
inaction in reforming and implementing
surveillance and prevention is a choice.
• Just 10% of the US$128 million can improve
surveillance and prevention
In spite of improved safety features on vehicles, e.g., airbags, seatbelts, etc., the rates of causalities continue to increase on our roads. 1994 – 15,826; 1998 -17,506; 2007 – 21, 97
In spite of these multiplicity of factors, we have concentrated our efforts on moral suasion through educational campaigns and leaving important issues such as vehicle roadworthiness to corrupt police officials
The original seating arrangement from the manufacturer for a minibus to carry 15 people has been altered to make the minibus carry between 18 to 20 people. This leaves no spaces between the seats and passengers, as seen in this picture, have to slant their legs to fit into the limited space. In a situation of an accident with even a minimal impact, passengers are bound to lose their knees or the whole leg
All these dangers are still present and we are concentrating on education.
it is observable that the space between the seats is so small that the passenger has to tilt her leg in order to fit in. In this instance, in an accident individuals may be mangled in this small space and it might be difficult to pull them out from the space. I witnessed a situation where a rope had to be tied to another car and pulled in reverse before a space emerged for the victim to be pulled out. it is observable that the space between the seats is so small that the passenger has to tilt her leg in order to fit in. In this instance, in an accident individuals may be mangled in this small space and it might be difficult to pull them out from the space. I witnessed a situation where a rope had to be tied to another car and pulled in reverse before a space emerged for the victim to be pulled out.
It is observable that seats on some of the buses pose great danger to passengers in case of an accident. In this particular photo, the sharp protruding metal is a clear danger to passengers who ignore these signs. The implication is that some of the injuries that occur in these circumstances are preventable.
Can we continue this way?
It eliminates the human aspect of enforcement which is corruptible in our part of the world.
Elimination of human corruptible factors etc. it has the potential to reduce accidents to the barest minimum.
Date of offense, Date of offense, Time and location, direction and speed of the offending vehicle, etc.
1. When the siren begins to sound, the cameras are turned on. An independent body is monitoring what the policeman is doing through the cameras on top of the vehicle. This is to prevent bribery and corruption. 2. They tell you the reason why they stop immediately you are stopped and so on.
There is 6 weeks to 2 months grace period between receiving the ticket and choosing to go to court or to pay. The police are not the collectors of the fine.
