Drug Abuse Among Drivers Fueling Road Crashes In Ashanti – Police
The Ashanti Region continues to top the list of road accidents in Ghana, with the police blaming the disturbing trend on drug abuse among commercial drivers.
The Ashanti Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), Kwame Boadi, disclosed this during the GPRTU Council Meeting held in Kumasi.
According to him, investigations by the police indicate that many commercial drivers engage in drug use before getting behind the steering wheel, contributing significantly to road crashes in the region.
He therefore called on transport union executives to intensify public education and disciplinary measures against drivers involved in the practice.
“Most of the road accidents are caused by drug use by commercial drivers. Union leaders must sensitize their members to stop this practice,” he stated.
Supt. Boadi also warned drivers against accepting parcels from unknown persons for delivery, stressing that some of such packages contain narcotic substances.
He cautioned that drivers arrested with illegal drugs would be prosecuted by law enforcement agencies, irrespective of whether the items belonged to them or not.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, the KMA Transport Convener and Assembly Member for Adum Electoral Area, Patrick Yeboah, appealed to members of the union to remain calm over an ongoing internal election dispute.
He urged the members to resolve their differences peacefully to safeguard unity within the transport sector.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the union, Sumaila Boakye, also cautioned street drivers against charging unapproved transport fares, describing the practice as unacceptable.
