MInister promises gov't assistance to accident victims

Winneba, Jan 20, GNA - Mr. Mike Hammah, the outgoing Minister of Transport, has visited the victims of the road accident that occurred on January 19 at Mpunem near Winneba.

The victims are on admission at the Winneba Government Hospital. The accident occurred when a cargo truck heading towards Cape Coast from Winneba collided with a 207 bus which was also heading towards Accra from Cape Coast.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Nana Ofori, Winneba Municipality MTTU Commander, said 13 people died including the drivers of the vehicles. "According to our records, 10 people died on the spot, two others di= ed at Winneba Government Hospital and another person died at a hospital in Apam,", he said.

Mr Hammah extended his condolence to the bereaved families and pledged government's assistance towards the recuperation of those on admission. He expressed concern about accidents and said they were draining the nation's human resource.

"The spate of accidents on our roads is just unacceptable since it w= ill not in any way help us achieve the 91Better Ghana Agenda.' We must work= to protect the human resource base of the country," he said. Mr. Hammah praised to the security agencies and the staff of the Winneba Government Hospital for the professional manner in which they handled the victims.

He presented 1,000Ghana cedis to the hospital authorities to cater for the medical expenses of the victims and pledged government's support towa= rds their recovery. Mr Noble Appiah, Chief Executive Officer of the National Road Safety Commission, appealed to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to make issues relating to road safety one of their topmost priorities.