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A total of 89 people died in 1,176 road accidents in Accra, in the first quarter of this year while 559 people also sustained injuries and 225 pedestrians were knocked down within the same period.

A total of 710 commercial and 983 private vehicles were involved in the accidents.

The Commanding Officer of the Central Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Anderson Fosu-Ackaah, who disclosed these to The Ghanaian Times in an interview in Accra, attributed the causes of the accidents to over-speeding, drunk driving and wrongful over-taking, among others.

ACP Fosu-Ackaah said 524 drivers were arrested, within the period, of various motor traffic offences, and added that 431 cases were sent to court which convicted 354 of them.

“Forty-five are awaiting trial, 37 under investigations,10 issued with bench warrant, three jailed and 56 served with warning letters,” she said.

ACP Fosu-Ackaah said 20 people were discharged, while fines, totalling GH¢171,010, were paid into the Consolidated Fund.

He said as part of efforts to ensure road safety, the MTTD had embarked on a vigorous educational drive at the lorry stations to educate both passengers and drivers.

ACP Fosu-Ackaah stated that the MTTD would collaborate with other stakeholders in the transport sector to ensure safety on the roads.

He urged drivers to abide by road safety regulations, adding that recalcitrant drivers would be arrested and prosecuted.

The Commanding Officer advised pedestrians to also use only designated areas such as the zebra crossings to avoid being knocked down.