Make campaign period accident-free – Former Prez Kufuor

Former President J.A. Kufuor has urged political party leaders and their supporters to put road-safety ahead of any other considerations during the campaign season, given the high accident figures during the period.

“Why do political parties take the trouble to move about in convoys? We rally to live. If you want power, it is to govern to make lives better for people. But if in the process you risk lives unnecessarily, then you are missing the point’’.

“I believe it is good that we remind ourselves and the entire nation that, yes it is important to move around and convince people as to why they should rally to the support of party A or B, but along the way, we should never forget that it is for life not for death, “he said, when officials of the National Road Safety Commission ( NRSC) paid a courtesy call on him at his Airport Residential Area home in Accra.

Don’t risk lives

The visit was to invite the former President to an NRSC-organised political parties’ dialogue slated for September 20 to deliberate and get the commitment of the parties on reducing road accidents, especially during the election campaign.

A victim of road accidents himself on two different occasions, former President Kufuor recalled an accident he was involved in in 1996 and also while in office, saying “thanks be to God, otherwise people will be talking about me in past tense.”

“It is important we are careful. In about two to three months, we are going to the polls to pick our President and parliamentarians. If we really do not want to live to see what will happen, why do we make the effort?

“We should never risk lives through careless driving. People should not drink and drive during such occasions, “he said.

The former President accepted the invitation and pledged to support the commission in its efforts.

The Executive Director of the commission, Mrs May Obiri-Yeboah, earlier said the commission had since 2008 decided to step up its game in election years because of the rather high accident rates and the attendant deaths.

She said given the size of the commission, it was crucial to bring notable personalities including the country’s two former Presidents—Messrs Kufuor and J.J. Rawlings — on board to play advocacy roles as they have a lot of influence on the public.

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