Accra, Sept. 13, GNA - Moved by the increasing spate of road accidents and their attendant fatalities, Alex Akwafo, Ghana's renowned backward cyclist has decided to tour the country to caution drives against recklessness.

Speaking to the GNA Sports on Tuesday, the reverse rider said he would ride across the country from Wa in the Upper West Region to Accra to sensitise drives about the negative effects reckless driving has on the socio economic development of the country.

"Lately, we have lost many well qualified and resourceful Ghanaians whose contributions would have impacted positively on the improvement of the living standards of Ghanaians."

He said he would begin his campaign from Wa on Friday, September 16 and end it at the Police Headquarters in Accra on Monday, September 26.

Akwafo said he would stop over at Bolga, Walewale, Tamale, Buipe, Techiman, Kumasi, Nkawkaw, Kibi and Nsawam and preach against recklessness and other vices, which militate against safe driving.

"My message will be simple. I will prove to them though I ride backwards, with utmost carefulness, I will be able to ride safely across the country.

"Our drivers must eschew aggression on the roads and drive defensively in order to reduce accidents because lives lost are never regained."

He expressed gratitude to the Ghana News Agency, GTV, OTB Ghana Limited, apstar Airlines and the National Road Safety Commission for supporting him in diverse ways to undertake the trip and hoped his effort would achieve its objectives.

Lately, there has been a rise in road accidents in Ghana leading to the loss of many lives. These accidents involve both commercial and private vehicles.

On August 28, Professor JMK Quartey, Dr Isaac Bentsil and Dr Benjamin Osei-Wiafe, three of the country's top urologists died on the Accra - Kumasi when their cross-country vehicle collided with an on-coming vehicle.

On Thursday, September 8, Suzzy Williams, a top actress died when her vehicle somersaulted on the Labadi Teshie road in Accra.