The Sunyani branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), has urged the government to ensure road contracts are awarded to competent contractors without partisan considerations.

Mr. Edward Atta Buahin, the Vice-Chair of the Union, made the call at a meeting of the Sunyani Municipal Road Safety Committee, on Thursday, in Sunyani.

He alleged that many of the highways in the country were sub-standard because some of the construction firms that executed them lacked the capacity but won such contracts due to favouratism.

The committee, chaired by Mr. Agyabeng Mensah Abrampa, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Manager of the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), comprised representatives from transport Unions and Organisations, Police, Ghana Education Service, the Municipal Assembly and the Ghana National Fire Service.

Mr. Buahin stated that the bad nature of roads in the country were among the major contributory factors to road accidents, stressing that, until pot-holes, faded road markings, and other shoddy works were re-done, accidents could not be minimized.

However, Mr. Abrampa said human error, especially speeding, contributed about 70 per cent to road crashes, and advised drivers against it.

He said the Kintampo-Techiman highway was among the suitable roads, but added that, almost all the 349 road accidents recorded in the Kintampo Municipality alone in the second and fourth quarters of 2014, in which 71 were killed, occurred on the highway.

Mr. Abrampa entreated owners of commercial vehicles to ensure regular maintenance of their vehicles and advised drivers to check their tyres and lighting systems before they set off their journeys.