The Ghana National Ambulance Service (GNAS) on Thursday criticized the unauthorized closure of principal roads in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis for funeral ceremonies.

The Western Regional Team Leader of GNAS, Mr. Ayanah Mensah Abdulai, said: “It is very worrying and frustrating when we are responding to emergencies and find the roads barricaded for funerals.”

He, therefore, called on the city authorities to check such illegal road closures to save precious lives.

Mr. Abdulai expressed these concerns at a Road-Safety Awareness forum organized by Planet Three Peace Programme (P3PP), a non-governmental organization in Takoradi.

It is under the theme: “Building a Culture of Peace on Our Roads.”

He advised bicycle and motorbike riders to wear reflective clothing at night to avoid frequent knockdowns.

Mr. Abdulai appealed to the government to adequately resource the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) with electronic gadgets for proper vehicle examination before issuing out road worthy certificates to motorists.

The Programmes Coordinator of Planet Three Peace Programme (P3PP), Mr. Selasie Asuo, said P3PP is a road-safety advocacy organization established to create awareness on road safety issues.

He said since its inception about a year ago, it had collaborated with the National Road Safety Commission, the Police Service, Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority and Ghana National Fire Service to educate the public on road safety issues.

Mr. Asuo said it had visited education institutions, churches, mosques, markets and other public places to educate and sensitize the citizenry on road safety issues to minimize the carnage on our roads.

He appealed to all corporate organizations, the media, clergy and all well-meaning Ghanaians to put hands on deck in educating the populace on road safety issues.

In a speech read on his behalf the Western Regional Minster, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, pledged the government’s preparedness to collaborate with road safety stakeholders to ensure road safety.

He advised motorists to desist from taking calls on mobile phones while driving, over speeding, overloading and other unacceptable behaviour on the road.

Mr. Aidoo appealed to state agencies mandated to educate and sensitize the public on road safety issues to intensify their education campaign.