Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has organized a training programme for its drivers at the Bunso Cocoa College in the Eastern region to equip them to be more professional in the discharge of their duties.

The training programme was to build up the skills of the drivers to observe safety precautions and to learn new trends in the automobile and road transport industry.

It focused on professional ethics, road traffic regulations, fire education, first aid, defensive driving and accident management.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Thomas Kwame Osei, the Rector of Bunso Cocoa College challenged the drivers to upgrade themselves in different fields and also to learn new skills in order to use vehicles that have been manufactured with sophisticated mechanical technology.

“You need to take advantage of the training session to become a programmable workforce. Learn new trends, unlearn and relearn”, he added.

Mr. Osei noted that the skills of the drivers were key as they will inure to the protection of the lives of passengers, pedestrians and other motorists.

In an address read on his behalf, the Director of Human Resource and Solicitor Secretary, Mr. Francis Akwasi Opoku urged the drivers to adapt to new trends in driving and to ensure accident free situations through their hard work.

“It is important that COCOBOD is equipping you drivers, due to the role you play, in transporting COCOBOD staff in the discharge of your duties”, he noted.

Mr. Joseph Mperey, Transport Manager of Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) narrated that 90% of road crashes are attributed to human factors related to the drivers’ psychological make-up. He, therefore, entreated drivers to be particularly conscious of their temperament, which directly affects decisions while on the road.

Mr. Mperey cautioned drivers to take enough rest, avoid rush and also maintain professional and good customer care.