Bono Regional Commander of the Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD), Superintendent Stephen Tenkorang, has cautioned political parties against over-speeding during the campaign period in order to reduce road accidents and fatalities on the highways.

He has urged them to adhere to road traffic regulations and signals and advised them against bussing and over-loading their supporters to campaign grounds.

Supt. Tenkorang made the call when he addressed political party representatives at an inter-political meeting on road safety held in Sunyani.

The Bono Regional office of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) organised the meeting to sensitize representatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the People's National Convention (PNC) who attended the programme.

Supt. Tenkorang indicated that the police have intensified night patrols on major highways in accident-prone communities and hence would not spare drivers who flouted road safety regulations.  

He observed that the lives of many party supporters were at risk during political party campaigns due to careless driving.

For that matter, the police have positioned themselves to check negligence and clamp down on undisciplined drivers.

Supt. Tenkorang warned uninsured and unlicensed motor riders, adding that riders who fail to wear crash helmets would be arrested and prosecuted.

He indicated that although the Region had not recorded any accident relating to political party activities, a concerted effort is required from all stakeholders to control road accidents.

He said 13 people had so far died within the Sunyani Municipality alone, through car crashes in the past 3 months.

Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Head of the NRSA, Mr. Kwasi Agyenim Boateng, indicated that road accidents always remain higher during election periods, saying many of them were as a result of human error.

He called on all road users to be extra careful, and appealed to political parties to sensitize their supporters not to flout road traffic regulations in order to minimize accidents.

Krontihene of Sunyani Traditional Area, Boaman Bofotia Boamponsem II, called on the police not to entertain, but arrest and prosecute indiscipline drivers and motor riders.