The National Insurance Commission (NIC) in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service and the National Road Safety Authority on Tuesday arrested over 20 drivers in the Eastern Regional Capital Koforidua for failing to insure their vehicles.
According to the NIC, the exercise is to help protect passengers and drivers as the festive season draws near.
Speaking to Citi News after the exercise, the Eastern Regional Manager of the National Insurance Commission, Esther Konadu Ofori, called on the public to check the roadworthiness of vehicles before boarding.
“This operation since we started, we have arrested about 20 vehicles who are uninsured. Some also have expired insurance, so when it happens like that, we make sure that you renew your insurance or take new insurance before you continue your journey. Going into this Xmas, we all know what happens during Xmas festivities, a lot of accidents do happen.”
“The advice we are giving to all the public or all passengers is that they should make sure that before they board any vehicle, they should check the genuineness of the insurance covering the vehicle by dialling *920*57#. You enter the vehicle registration number, you get a response from NIC that the vehicle is genuinely insured. When it happens like that, you have peace of mind that in case anything happens on the road, you are covered. The insurance company will pay your claims for you.”
The Eastern Regional MTTD Commander, Chief Superintendent Stephen Kofi Ahiatafu, in an interview also bemoaned the low level of compliance with road traffic regulations.
He stressed therefore that it will only take continuous law enforcement to get Ghanaians to be law-abiding.
“It is amazing or surprising that anytime we conduct this quarterly exercise, a lot of drivers on the road do not have insurance. For instance, today we had over 15 drivers who are driving on the road without insurance, and then the insurance commission brought their men here…For those without insurance, we ask them to do it, and then we warn them to leave. So even though we are always educating the drivers, compliance is becoming a problem. So without the enforcement, I am not sure Ghanaians will abide by regulations of motor traffic. So we have to continue all the time to enforce the laws,” he said.
According to the MMTD, 1,443 persons died in road crashes between January to July. Ahead of the Christmas festivities, the police together with other law enforcement agencies are expected to deploy measures to curb road accidents.