A Regional Commander of the Motto Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) has expressed worry that political interference has been a major challenge to road safety campaign in the country.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Teddy Damptey Brown, Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional commander of the Unit, explained that “whenever a driver is being prepared for court for road traffic offence as a deterrent to others, quickly, a politician would intervene to plead for pardon”.

He stressed that the situation was promoting indiscipline among drivers, affecting efforts of the MTTU and other road regulatory bodies in curbing road accidents in the area.

ASP Brown, who disclosed these to the Ghana New Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Tuesday, said the region recorded 707 accidents last year, as against 652 in 2011. He said 170 people died through road accidents last year, involving 539 commercial vehicles and 264 private vehicles, whilst 1,115 people were injured.

ASP Brown appealed to drivers to drive carefully to avoid accidents, and advised pedestrians to be careful when crossing the road.

He said 622 drivers were arrested on various road offences in 2012, 353 of them were sent to court, and 224 of them were convicted to a total fine of GHC52, 014.00.

ASP Brown said 169 of the cases were under investigations, 17 persons discharged, seven cases closed, 93 of the drivers cautioned and 112 drivers awaiting trial.

He asked drivers to obey road traffic regulations and warned that offenders would not be spared.