The Managing Director (MD) of Vivo Energy Ghana, Kader Maiga, has reasserted his outfit’s commitment to efforts aimed at curbing road accidents in the country.
Mr. Maiga spoke at the launch of Vivo Energy’s ‘Stop, Think and Drive’ road safety campaign, which seeks to contribute towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) – goal 36, which aims to halve the global number of deaths and injuries from road traffic crashes by 2030.
According to him, although roads are an essential part of the daily movement of people, they can also be a source of great danger if the appropriate road regulations and laws are not followed.
While speaking about Vivo Energy’s mission to reduce the number of road accidents, save lives, and protect communities, he emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling Ghana’s road accident menace, calling for commitment of drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, passengers and everyone: “We at Vivo believe that achieving this goal requires a collective effort involving- education, enforcement, and cooperation from all stakeholders. We cannot solely rely on government regulations or law enforcement agencies to achieve this”.
Mr. Maiga said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Supply and Distribution Manager of Vivo Energy Ghana, Reindolf Domey, at the company’s 2023 ‘Stop, Think and Drive’ road safety campaign in Accra. The initiative is in partnership with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the company’s transport partners – J.K. Horgle Transport, S.O Frimpong Transport and J.K. Ahiadome Transport.
He noted further that the campaign aims to not only raise awareness but also to ignite a change in behaviour and create a culture of safe driving. “The Stop, Think and Drive campaign serves as a powerful reminder for all road users to pause, consider the consequences and make responsible decisions behind the wheel”.
He bemoaned the millions of lives that are loss globally each year due to road accidents and countless others that are left with life-altering injuries: “Statistics from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service indicate that road traffic crashes, injuries and deaths (CIDs) saw consistent month-on-month reduction in 2022 and we have witnessed a similar trend this year as the number of persons killed in road crashes for the first half of this year has reduced, by 214 or 16 per cent compared to the same period last year. We believe that initiatives such as the ‘Stop, Think and Drive’ road safety campaign contributed to the reductions and continues to make an impact as far as driver behaviour is concerned,” he added
He assured that his outfit will collaborate and support law enforcement agencies to ensure that traffic regulations are upheld, adding that: “We believe that a combination of visible policing and technological advancements, such as traffic cameras and speed detection systems as deployed by the Ghana Police Service can encourage good road safety behaviours and deter reckless driving as well as hold those who disregard the law accountable for their actions”.
David Osafo Adonteng, acting Director-General- NRSA, on his part, indicated that the relationship between the NRSA and Vivo as partners in road safety management in Ghana dates back more than a decade.
“Within this period, we have jointly and collectively rolled out various road safety interventions ranging from education and sensitization to create greater awareness of the risks associated with road use and the need for each and every one of us to drive, ride and walk safely in accordance with the rules and regulations as drivers, motorcycle riders, pedestrians, among others.
Although he admitted that there is a problem with the country’s road infrastructure and transport system, he urged the transporters and drivers to abide by the safety practices associated with the use of the road, cautioning them against over-speeding, wrongful overtaking, the use of alcohol and drugs and driving tired now and during the Christmas.
“Think of your life and the lives of others, think of your property, that is, the vehicle which provides you with your livelihood, think of your family – wife and children, think, think and think before you act whilst driving,” he added.
The ‘Stop, Think & Drive’ road safety campaign is an annual event organised by Vivo Energy Ghana in partnership with the National Road Safety Authority and its transporters namely J. K. Horgle, S. O Frimpong and J. K. Ahiadome. Its objective is to provide refresher defensive driving training for commercial drivers and motorcyclists across the country to build their capacity with the ultimate goal to improve road user behaviour and reduce the risks of involvement in road accidents.
This year’s campaign is expected to reach over 1,000 high-risk commercial drivers and motorcyclists in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western and Eastern Regions.
