Kumasi, Feb. 11, GNA - Commercial drivers plying the Kumasi-Abuakwa route have appealed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, to allot a parking space in front of the hospital for the alighting of passengers, who were mostly patients or visitors to the hospital. They noted that most patients were weak and found it difficult to walk the long distance to the hospital's gate from where they currently alighted.

The drivers made the appeal in view of the frequent arrest by traffic police of drivers who parked in front of the hospital for passengers to get off.

According to them, offenders were made to pay a fine of GH¢300 or face six months' imprisonment by the courts. One of the offenders, Kwadwo Oppong, who was recently sentenced to a fine of GH¢300 by the circuit court, complained to the Presiding Judge, Mr D. P .W Amedior that the punishment was too harsh for an offence committed on humanitarian grounds. He said the punishment frustrated and demoralised the drivers, who had only good intentions to help the sick. However, Mr Amedior said he was constrained by the law to take any contrary action, hence the sentence. Oppong was charged with causing road obstruction and picking up passengers at the wrong place. 11 Feb. 09