NRSA Boss calls for stronger collaboration to address rising road crashes

The Director General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba Esq, has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to tackle the increasing cases of road crashes in the country.

He made the call during his remarks at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety Ghana partners meeting.

Lawyer Amaliba expressed concern about the alarming rate of fatalities, recalling that on one particular day, 16 people, including children, lost their lives in a crash. He stressed that beyond the human cost, the country was also losing a significant portion of its workforce and suffering huge economic losses due to accidents.

According to him, the situation is worsened by the poor state of road markings, which in many places are faint or absent, leaving drivers confused about lane discipline.

“In some instances, road markings are absent, so drivers do not know where they should keep their lane. Indeed, when it is raining, it’s worse,” he said.

He also highlighted poor lighting and malfunctioning traffic signals as factors contributing to crashes.

While urging drivers to obey road signs and limit their speeds, Mr. Amaliba emphasized the need for agencies such as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to be stricter in the issuance of driver’s licenses and road safety stickers.

“I am told that people just sit in their houses, the vehicle will not be sent for inspection, and yet the road safety sticker is issued to them. That is not good enough because road safety is a shared responsibility,” he cautioned.

Touching on efforts made by the NRSA, Amaliba said he had engaged the Chief Director of Highways on the safety challenges along the Accra–Nsawam highway, a stretch he described as Ghana’s busiest, with frequent accidents.

He revealed that steps were being taken to remove articulated trucks that park along both shoulders of the road, especially at night, to improve visibility and reduce risks.

He further disclosed that the Authority was also working to improve road visibility in city centers, citing the removal of signboards mounted on medians, which obstruct drivers’ views.

Amaliba called for stronger partnerships and coordination among stakeholders, noting that road safety is a shared responsibility. “At the end of the day, we must find solutions to our road crashes,” he said.

By Bawa Musah

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