Dompoase accident driver remanded for careless driving

The driver of the Hyundai bus with registration number GN 3780-10, who survived the fatal accident on the Cape Coast-Takoradi highway, Mark Kofi Mireku, has been remanded in police custody by a Cape Coast Circuit Court.

He has been charged with careless and inconsiderate driving and will appear again on January 31, 2020.

The Central Regional Police Commander, Commissioner of Police Paul Awini, said the driver was discharged from the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital last Thursday, two days after the accident, but was immediately detained by the police and arraigned yesterday.

Briefing

Briefing the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako Atta, and the Minister of Transport, Mr Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, on the accident, COP Awini said the police were working to gather the facts of the case relating to the accident.

The two ministers, accompanied by the Central Regional Minister, Mr Kwamena Duncan, were also taken to the accident scene at Dompoase in the Central Region where 34 people perished.

Road dualisation

Mr Kwasi Amoako Atta said cabinet had committed to dualising all major roads to reduce the number of fatalities.

He indicated that while work on the Accra-Kumasi-Paga highway had begun, the government would ensure that the Accra-Aflao and Accra-Takoradi-Tarkwa highways would also be made a reality.

Mr Amoako Atta said the Cape Coast -Takoradi highway was one of the best roads in the country and thus described the accident which had resulted in the needless deaths caused through human error as unfortunate.

Education

For his part, Mr Ofori Asiamah said there was the need for more education and urged the media to commit airtime and space to support the campaign on road safety.

He said it was disturbing that after several educational campaigns for drivers and other road users, the nation continued to record high fatalities through road accidents.

The minister expressed regret that despite the consistent education on road safety, drivers had refused to apply the basic road safety regulations, a situation that had caused accident fatalities to remain high.

"It is regrettable that the more we improve the roads, the more fatalities we record."

Hospital visit

The two ministers also visited the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) to sympathise with the injured who were still on admission.

The Chief Executive Officer of the CCTH, Dr Eric Ngyedu, indicated that family members had identified and taken away the bodies of 24 out of the 34 persons who lost their lives.

Out of the 10 bodies still at the hospital mortuary, five are yet to be identified or claimed.

Dr Ngyedu also said the hospital had decided to waive all mortuary fees on the bodies from the accident that were deposited at the mortuary.