With Ghana heading into the festive season, a period historically associated with spikes in road crashes, the Ghana Police Service says, it is activating heightened traffic enforcement nationwide to curb reckless driving and protect lives.
The announcement came during a sensitisation training organised by MTN Ghana in partnership with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) for staff who use official company vehicles and managers of its fleet. The training, held on Friday, aimed at equipping employees with knowledge of existing and upcoming road safety policies and ensuring heightened precaution whenever they are on the road.
Speaking at the training, Chief Superintendent Alexander Obeng, Director in Charge of Education, Research and Development at the MTTD headquarters in Accra, said the Police Service is prioritising proactive safety measures this year.
“We don’t wait for Christmas to act. The police structure is built on prevention,” he stressed. “As we enter the yuletide, you will see heightened police presence, especially at black spots. Offenders whether drunk drivers, repeat speeders, or reckless drivers will be processed for court.”
He explained that the police will deploy more patrol teams, evidence-gathering equipment, and joint operations with the National Road Safety Authority to ensure safety on highways and in urban centres. He also urged the media and social institutions to intensify education.
“We expect strong media collaboration to amplify safety awareness,” he said. “Churches, mosques, schools, community leaders and everyone must help. When police are present, people do not commit offences. The result is fewer crashes, fewer deaths, fewer injuries, and less damage to property.”
Not All Traffic Lights Cameras Are for Traffic Offences
Chief Supt. Obeng also addressed public concerns about cameras installed at major traffic intersections, clarifying that not all of them are intended for road traffic enforcement.
“Those cameras are for surveillance,” he said. “They help tackle issues like hijacking, kidnapping and robbery. Police back offices monitor them in real time.”
He explained that these security cameras are part of a nationwide system of over 30,000 units installed since 2013 to support crime detection and national security operations.
According to him, the traffic enforcement cameras which motorists have been anticipating are a different set of devices being rolled out under the Police’s Traffic Tech GH initiative.
“The traffic enforcement cameras are not the fixed surveillance cameras people see at intersections,” he clarified. “Some will be in police vehicles, some on tripods, and some fixed at key locations. When you violate speed regulations, they will capture you automatically and send a ticket to your phone within about three minutes.”
These cameras will work alongside new digital enforcement tools as Ghana transitions to a technology-driven road safety system.
Chief Supt. Obeng commended MTN Ghana for supporting the initiative, saying corporate organisations must play a central role in the national effort to reduce road crashes during and beyond the Christmas period.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
