As part of measures to reduce road crashes, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has licensed the Vehicle Inspection and Technical Organisation (VITO), a private entity to check the road worthiness of vehicles.

The purpose of VITO is to inspect and test vehicles to ensure that they are roadworthy to facilitate the safety of drivers and passengers.

The inspection process includes identification, payment for test, registry, visual and automated testing, printing and certification and road worthy certificate.

The visual test include the windscreen, tyre, wipers, wheel knots and bolts, seat belt, number plates and seats while the automated test include emission test, alignment, shock absorbers, front, rear and rear brakes test and the lighting system.

Mr Samuel Oppong, President and Chief Executive Officer of VITO said the organisation, which started operations 18 months ago, had so far tested about 48,000 vehicles which include private and government.

He said the testing has drastically reduced road crashes since the Organisation does not compromise on standards.

Mr Oppong said the organisation has also reduced the congestion and ease the pressure on the DVLA office at the 37 Military Hospital area, where vehicles are tested and licensed.

He said there is the need for 10 of such facilities in Accra and its environs, adding that only four are currently operational.

VITO is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Roads to establish a branch in Kumasi and hope to extend its operations to other regions.

He appealed to Government to encourage the opening of more of such facilities through Public Private Partnership which is key for economic development.

Mr Oppong said about 70 per cent of vehicle that ply the roads are not roadworthy and this has led to many road crashes.

He said power outage, poor roads leading to his facility, lack of education on faults are some of the challenges to vehicles owners they render services to.