The Deputy Director, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Road Safety Commission, David Osafo Adonteng has indicated that Ghana "wastes" more than ¢1.2 trillion annually on road accident.

The cost involved in road accident means exactly 1.6 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product per annum is channeled into solving road accident situation.

10,000 fatal traffic accidents occur on roads in Ghana annually out of which 1,600 people die through road traffic accidents while 15,000 get seriously injured.

David Adonteng, who was speaking at the National Road Safety Evaluation and Strategic workshop in Kumasi yesterday said the "Ghana Road Safety Commission was targeting a reduction of road traffic accident fatalities systematically on yearly basis and also achieve a single digit in accident fatality rate by the year 2015,"adding that "such feat could be achieved through prudent administrative measures, while efforts should be made to improve and enforce existing laws on road traffic regulations."

The evaluation and strategic workshop which brought together all the stakeholders in the Road industry such as the Motor Transport and Traffic Unit, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, National Association of Driving Schools, Broadcasting industry as well as the National Insurance Commission sought to discuss and strategise effectively on how to achieve the country's vision of making Ghana’s road transportation system the safest in Africa.

It was also to devise mechanisms as to the way forward to achieving a single digit in fatality rate in road accident in Ghana.

Mr Adonteng disclosed that the number of road traffic accidents, fatalities and registered vehicles in Ghana between 2001 and 2005 indicated that road accident increased in 2001 to 11,291 with 1660 fatalities while in 2002 road accident slightly decreased to 10,718 in 2002 with 1665 fatalities.

In 2003, road accident further went down recording 10,644 but fatalities rose to 1,718 whereas accidents in 2004 sharply went up to 12,164 and again decrease slightly to 11,305 in 2005.

According to him, available road traffic accident statistics revealed that children between the ages from 4-10 years were the most affected in pedestrian deaths from road traffic accidents.

Most of the accidents, he said according to statistics occurred between 6pm to 8pm. He said the months of April and December registered the highest accident in all these years, whilst five regions; Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra Central and Western accounted for 80 percent in the country.

The Deputy Director said there was the need for the Commission to undertake nation-wide planning and development of road safety education and maintain a comprehensive database and reports related to road safety in the country.

Giving the overview of road safety situation in Ghana, May Obiri- Yeboah, Manager- planning and education of NRSC said over-speeding constituted 50 percent of all road accidents in the country, however attributing it to disregard for traffic regulations by most drivers and indiscriminate use of the road as well as the absence of pedestrians crossing.

On his part, the Regional Commander of MTTU, DSP James Sarfo Peprah said "despite the strenuous efforts aim at promoting reduction in road accidents and their associated casualties over the years by his outfit, most drivers, particularly in the Ashanti region continues to be adamant to collaborate with them."

He said the media, particularly the electronic should partner well with them in their public awareness recreation activities as it is the only sure and efficient way of dealing with the situation. He however commended the media for their role in helping create awareness through their programmes.