General News of Thursday, 18 August 2011

Source: GNA

GPRTU acquires alcoholmeters to test drivers

Wa, Aug. 18, GNA – The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) would soon take delivery of alcoholmeters for testing the blood alcohol level of practising drivers who are its members.

“Every driver, without exception, would be obliged to undergo the alcohol test before departing any station with passengers, Alhaji Yaw Manu, National Chairman of the Union, said at Wa, on Wednesday.

The move is aimed at minimizing the spate of accidents on the roads for which civil society and the public often blame the Union.

He was addressing the Quadrennial Congress of the Upper West Regional Branch of the Union at Wa at which the current regional executive members who all stood unopposed were unanimously endorsed for another four-year term.

The congresses which are being conducted throughout the country are a prelude to the national congress which would be held in Tamale within the year.

Mr. Mahamud Iddrisu was re-elected chairman with Mr. Abudu Abubakari as the vice while Alhaji Nuhu Mankama and Alhaji Abdul-Aziz Adams were endorsed as first and second trustees, respectively.

Alhaji Manu said the union had also placed an order for reflectors for their vehicles which were also expected to arrive in the country by October this year.

The national chairman expressed worry over the frequent cases of highway robberies lately and urged drivers to cooperate with the security agencies to bring the menace under the control.

“We should all find ways of monitoring the movement of such people as they do not live in the bush, although they operate there,” he stated.