Bill to transform NRSC into authority laid in Parliament
A Bill to transform the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) into an authority is currently in Parliament for consideration after Cabinet approved it.
When passed, the bill, according to Executive Director of the NRSC, May Obiri-Yeboah, would empower the Authority to sanction stakeholders of road safety which fail to comply with standards and code required to promote road safety.
She was speaking in Accra yesterday when members of Street Sense Organisation, a road safety group, presented some items valued at GH¢36,000 to the NRSC.
It included 20 reflective vests, 20 special reflective raincoats, 60 T-shirts, 20 polo shirts, 400 pieces each of seatbelts and helmet stickers.
She said the bill would also empower the Authority to regulate groups and individuals engaged in road safety activities and campaigns in the country.
“We live in a country where people just do things the way they like it. While the commission will be focusing on seatbelts, some road safety groups will also focus on something else. Which makes it difficult to sensitise the public the way it should be done. The bill will empower us to guide them on what to do and what to say within a particular time so we can make the maximum impact of our campaigns,” she explained.
Additionally, it would also provide for the regulation of transport operators to promote about sanity in the industry, the executive director noted.
On recent fatal road crashes, Mrs Obiri-Yeboah said it was time for attitudinal change by all stakeholders including drivers and passengers towards road usage to address the menace.
Director of Operations, Street Sense, Yao Doe Tamakloe, expressed concern about recent spate of road crashes and appealed to the commission to explore every available measure to curb the situation.
As part of its impending status as an Authority, he said the group was advocating new approach for reducing road crashes.
This, he said, should include enforcement of laws by police and district assemblies guards to deal with lawlessness and indiscipline on the roads.
Mr Tamakloe reiterated the group’s support for the NRSC’s programmes and activities to conscientise the public on road safety especially during festivities.
Samson Oddoye, Trustee in-charge of National Coordination, Street Sense indicated that the organisation was established in September 2014 and had since held road safety sensitisation campaigns throughout the country.
Currently, he said the organisation was collaborating with Guinness Ghana to promote road safety in the country.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
