The much-anticipated grand finale of the Ghana Driver & Road Safety Awards came off on Friday, November 23, 2018, with Moses Osei, a driver of Aayalolo (GAPTE), winning the Overall Best Driver 2018.

Prof. Gyan Baffour, Minister of Planning (representing the President of Ghana), Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport, and several other dignitaries graced the occasion which took place at the forecourt of the State House in Accra.

Moses drove away in a brand-new Suzuki Alto vehicle fully insured by Unique Insurance. He also gets GHC20, 000 Personal Accident Insurance Cover from Unique Insurance as well as GHC10, 000 Seed Fund for Shenkani Drivers’ Welfare Fund.

The mission of the Ghana Driver & Road Safety Awards (GDRSA) is to raise Champions of road safety and driving excellence at lorry stations and companies across the country, according to Md. Freda Frimpong, Director of Partnerships at the Ghana Driver & Road Safety Awards Foundation.

She used her speech to invite other corporate organisations to emulate the example of GHACEM and GOIL and support the 2019 edition of the GDRSA to make it bigger and more impactful. Md. Frimpong used the occasion to launch a “GHANA BEYOND ROAD ACCIDENTS” agenda and invited all Ghanaians to join in it.

An exciting highlight of the event was when Florence Marfo, a driver of VIP bus was announced as the winner of the Best Driver, Intercity Category. Florence held her own against several men, being the only female nominee of the 2018 programme, to emerge tops after four stages of screening and selection.

Florence has been driving commercial bus for over 15 years and prides herself in her experience on all the long-distance routes of Ghana. For her prize, she received a Table-top Fridge, GHC10,000 Personal Accident Insurance Cover from Unique Insurance, GHC5000 Drivers’ Welfare Fund from Shenkani Ghana Limited, as well as a Refresher Training Course.

In a speech read on his behalf by Prof. Gyan Baffour, Minister of Planning, the President of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo praised the efforts of the organizers and encouraged other organisations to partner the National Road Safety Commission to work towards safer roads in Ghana. The Minister of Transport, Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah also lauded efforts of the organisers and pledged his Ministry’s support for 2019 and future editions of the programme.

The colourful event was attended by several driver Unions and Road Safety partners, Officers of the Ghana Police Service and the National Fire Service, a cross-section of Ghanaians, as well as members of the Diplomatic Corps.