Guinness Ghana in partnership with Total Petroleum, has launched the third edition of the annual ‘Don’t Drink and Drive campaign dubbed, “Twa Kwano Mmom” (Go the Distance).

The campaign launch was held at the Madina transport terminal.

Twa Kwano Mmom is an alcohol education programme targeted at commercial drivers with embedded attitudinal and behavioural change component.

Since 2013 the campaign has successfully reached about 2,500 commercial drivers in major transport terminals with the objective to reduce in the number of road accidents attributed to drink driving especially during the festive seasons.

This year’s campaign is targeted at twelve transport terminals educating about 4,000 commercial drivers on the effects of drunk driving.

Launching the campaign, Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs. Joyce Bawa Mogtari cited how road accidents and injuries are a major public health and developmental concern, adding that it is costly to both families and the victims themselves.

The Deputy Minister said from January to November this year, a total of 9,904 cases of road traffic crashes have been reported involving 15,505 vehicles.

She noted that these crashes led to 1,938 cases of pedestrian knock downs, 1,474 deaths and 8,448 injuries.

“This situation reflects a reduction of 17.5% in reported cases, a 17.1% reduction in number of vehicles involved, 18.4% reduction in cases of Pedestrian knock downs, 14% reduction in deaths and a 25.4% reduction in persons injured over the same period of January to November 2014,” she said.

 For the past two years, she recalls, GGBL has been supporting road safety education and awareness programmes through their unique ‘Twa Kwano Mmom’ Don’t Drink and Drive campaign. I am happy that TOTAL Ghana has joined this year.

“I say Ayekoo and keep up the good work. This campaign falls in line with our road safety education programme and we will continually support initiatives such as this one to save the lives and properties of the good people of Ghana,” Mrs Mogtari said.

Stephen Nirenstein, Acting Managing Director of GGBL reiterated the position of the company on Drink Driving.

He said “as a responsible business we are aware that alcohol, just like any other consumer product, if abused can lead to undesirable consequences for the individual and society at large. We are confident that this year’s campaign will equally contribute significantly to reduce drink driving among commercial drivers in the country and contribute to the effort of the Ministry of Roads and Transport, the National Road Safety Commission and the Police to make our roads safer this festive season.’

Mrs. Adesua Adewole, Sales and marketing Manager of TOTAL Petroleum in a speech read on her behalf, added, “we at TOTAL, are a safety conscious business and we believe in ensuring the safety of those we serve as well and their tools of trade. This symbiotic relationship inspired us to partner GGBL on the campaign this year and we hope with the education that will take place, we will see a reduction in road incidence.”

A participant who registered to be part of the campaign last year said, “a number of drivers have the wrong perception about drinking alcohol. Some actually believed it keeps them alert on the roads. However, since GGBL came over to their stations, they have been careful not to engage in drinking alcohol when they are about to drive.”