Tema, Aug 23, GNA - The number of drivers in the Tema Metropolis who committed motor offences reduced from 106 in the first quarter of 2010 to 83 during the same period this year.

Superintendent Daniel Ansong-Dankyi, Tema Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), who disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said 97 of the offending drivers were put before the law courts during the first quarter of last year, while the number of those prosecuted during the same period this year was 78. Supt Ansong-Dankyi said 93 drivers were so far convicted during the first quarter of last year, while the figure for the same period in 2011 stood at 67 convicted drivers.

The Regional MTTU Commander said the total amount of fines accruing from the 2010 arrests came to 16,940 Ghana cedis, while the amount involved in the first quarter of 2011 was 14,660 Ghana cedis.

He said the figure increased from 153 arrests for the second quarter (April-June) last year, to 163 during the same period this year. Supt Ansong-Dankyi said out of 134 offending drivers processed for court, as many as 129 of them were found guilty and convicted. The figure, he said, shot from 134 last year, to 144 prosecuted drivers during the same period under review in 2011. The Regional Commander of the MTTU said a total of 129 drivers were convicted during the second quarter last year, while in 2011, the number of convicted drivers increased to 139.

Mr Ansong-Dankyi said total fines increased during the second quarter of last year from 33,180 Ghana Cedis to 41, 250 Ghana Cedis during the same period this year.