The Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Mr Abraham Amaliba, has reiterated the authority’s commitment to collaborating with key stakeholders to strengthen road safety interventions across the country.
He said the approach would focus on strategic partnerships, intensified public education, effective enforcement and the deployment of technology-driven solutions.
Mr Amaliba made the remarks during a courtesy call on the Acting Chief Director of the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC), Mr Sumaila Ewuntomah Abudu, in Tamale last Friday.
The visit formed part of a two-day working tour of the Northern Region to assess the activities of the NRSA and engage stakeholders on measures to improve road safety and traffic management.
Mr Amaliba identified key challenges confronting Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), including congestion in urban centres, obstruction of pedestrian walkways, indiscriminate parking and low usage of crash helmets among motorcyclists.
He explained that the authority was gradually shifting from heavy reliance on manual enforcement to technology-based systems such as traffic to improve discipline on the roads.
According to him, the adoption of intelligent traffic management systems would enhance transparency, strengthen compliance and support efforts to reduce road crashes and traffic violations.
Mr Amaliba further indicated that the authority would work closely with the NRCC and other stakeholders to intensify monitoring and enforcement of crash helmet regulations in the region.
He emphasised that wearing a crash helmet was a life-saving measure and urged both riders and passengers to comply with the law in order to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
For his part, Mr Abudu assured the NRSA of the council’s readiness to support efforts aimed at addressing road safety and traffic management challenges in the Tamale Metropolis and the Northern Region.
He commended the authority for its sustained commitment to reducing road crashes nationwide.
Mr Abudu, however, expressed concern about the state of some roads and public spaces in Tamale, describing the situation as an eyesore that required urgent attention.
He noted that the indiscriminate occupation of roads, pavements and pedestrian walkways by traders and unauthorised activities, coupled with poor parking practices, continued to pose serious challenges to both motorists and pedestrians.
He added that the increasing encroachment on road reservations not only disrupted the free flow of traffic but also exposed road users to unnecessary risks and contributed to accidents.
Additionally, Mr Abudu called for sustained decongestion exercises and stricter enforcement of road traffic regulations to restore order and improve mobility within the metropolis.
He gave an assurance that the NRCC would collaborate with the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly, security agencies, transport unions, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to address the challenges.
Mr Abudu stressed that road safety education remained a shared responsibility and urged residents to support efforts to promote discipline and proper use of roads and public spaces.
He also raised concerns about the growing disregard for crash helmet regulations, noting that motorcycles had become a major means of transport in many communities in the region.
Mr Abudu welcomed the authority’s move towards technology-driven solutions, stating that systems such as traffic would enhance compliance, improve monitoring and reduce challenges associated with manual enforcement.
FROM YAHAYA NUHU NADAA, TAMALE
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