Agona Swedru (C/R), April 13, GNA - The Agona District Assembly, in collaboration with the police and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), has set up an 18-member task force to check traffic offences.

Its members will, among other things, check congestion created by drivers parking at unauthorised places. Mr Isaiah Kojo Otoo, Chairman of the Swedru-Accra branch of the GPRTU, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Agona Swedru on Wednesday.

He said drivers plying the Akim-Oda-Swedru-Accra route were the worst offenders, and advised them to stop. Mr Otoo also expressed concern about the rude behaviour of a group of young men calling themselves "loading boys", who operate illegally at Swedru.

He said every effort would be made to rid the town of such irresponsible elements to protect the image of the GPRTU and safeguard the interest of passengers. The Vice-Chairman of the Union, Mr George Obeng, popularly known as "God Dey", appealed to courts in the area to impose stiffer punishment on recalcitrant drivers to stem the increasing number of fatal accidents on the roads.

He announced that since the task force was inaugurated a few weeks ago, nearly 20 drivers had been arrested. Mr Obeng advised members of the task force not to allow themselves to be influenced by drivers and transport owners as such practices might defeat their objectives.

Meanwhile, leaders of the task force are looking for an Accra-based mini-bus driver with vehicle registration number "GW3485P" who, together with some loading boys, allegedly assaulted three officials of the task force when they attempted to arrest him last Monday for traffic offences.