Accra, Sept. 24, GNA - A new road and traffic regulation is being drafted to replace the existing one by the end of the year, Mrs Dzifa Ativor, Deputy Minister of Transport said in Accra on Thursday. The new regulation would have new provisions for the prohibition of the conversion of cargo carrying vehicles into passenger carriers in the country.

This has been necessitated by the high rate of road accidents, which mostly register in the first and last quarters of every year claiming numerous lives.

The Deputy Minister said this when she inaugurated separate boards of directors for the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL), National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

The 10-member MMTL Board is chaired by Mr Antwi Gyamfi, whilst that of DVLA made of 12 members, is chaired by Lieutenant Colonel E. Tagoe Rtd. The 20-member NRSC Board is chaired by Mr Yaw Djan. Mrs Ativor said over the last two weeks, accidents had claimed the lives of 40 people and said the Ministry had directed the DVLA to rigidly enforce and ensure that all cargo vehicles converted for passenger operations met the construction and requirements as specified in the existing Road and Traffic Act (2004) Act 683 and the Road Traffic Regulation (1974) LI 953.

In addition to this directive, a taskforce made up of the DVLA, MTTU and the NRSC has been directed to undertake spot checks throughout the country to ascertain that passenger carry vehicles that do not meet requirements were.

The Deputy Minister said to ensure the success of the programme, massive public education and sensitization would be embarked to ensure that road accidents were prevented, reduced or avoided. She urged the various Boards of Directors to be mindful about the formulation of their plans, bearing in mind that the welfare of the people was core to the national development agenda. She charged members to urgently address all labour issues in their respective institutions to forestall any labour unrest. "It is important to remind ourselves that the Boards are to serve as chaperons of Management and that care must be taken so that as of a ship, the Boards will stick to their roles as captains while the steering of the ship is left to the rest of the crew". Mr Yao Klinogo, Executive Chairman of the State Enterprises Commission who chaired the function, urged the various board members to exhibit a sense of commitment to the task given them. He entreated members to always work with their respective managements for a common agenda for the success of set goals. 24 Sept. 09