UNITAR Concludes Training on Road Safety Management in Ghana
26-27 September 2017, Accra, Ghana – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in partnership with the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) of Ghana, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), and with the support of Diageo hosted the training workshop “Strengthening Capacities for Road Safety Management” in Accra, Ghana on 26-27 September 2017.
The training workshop brought together 60 government officials from Ghana representing the Ministry of Transport, National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), Ministry of Roads & Highways, Ghana Highway Authority, Ministry of Health, Ghana Education Service, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, Ghana Police Service, local governments associations, road safety advocates, private sector companies such as alcohol manufacturers, as well as from education and policy institutions.
The two-day workshop provided a venue to discuss how to address current challenges for road safety in Ghana. In order to develop and promote road safety and to coordinate policies, the Government of Ghana established the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC). The NRSC plays a key role promoting road safety activities in Ghana. During the workshop, Mr. David Adonteng, Director of Planning and Programmes from the NRSC shared that there has been an increased effort in raising awareness on road safety across the country, specially before and during holiday seasons. The NRSC is also collaborating closely with Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the Motor Traffic & Transport Directorate (MTTD) to ensure that undisciplined road users are apprehended and sanctioned.
Key topics discussed during the workshop included post-crash response. The discussion was led by Mr. Kofi Addo, Secretary-General of the Ghana Red Cross Society and by Professor Ahmed Nuhu Zakaria, CEO of the National Ambulance Service of Ghana. Over 50 million people are also injured in non-fatal crashes every year, causing an enormous burden of disability. Consequences of crashes may include physical injuries and resulting disability, psychological trauma that can impair reintegration into work and family life, and a range of economic and legal results. An integrated approach that supports survivors and families and helps mitigate the effects of experiencing a crash includes injury care, mental health services, legal support, and having accurate data on crashes and injuries.
Initiatives from the private sector, NGOs and civil society aimed at educating the most vulnerable road users were also presented during the workshop. Participants also joined a roundtable discussion on road safety interventions. Through this exercise, they shared road safety approaches, priority areas in their respective countries, as well as challenges when implementing programmes and plans. At the end of the exercise, participants developed a short action plan based on partnerships.
UNITAR’s upcoming workshop to build capacities on road safety management will take place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on 25-27 October 2017.
Photo 1: Workshop participants
Photo 2: Participants making the pledge "I Never Drink and Drive"