Insurance consultant, Edgar Wiredu is challenging the statistics quoted by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) that 21% of crashes on the roads is caused by stationary vehicles.

Public Relations Director for the NRSC, Kwame Atuahene at a forum Thursday, used the figure to justify the contentious mandatory towing levy for motorists.

But Edgar Wiredu says statistics quoted by the NRSC is a “complete lie!”

“The accidents that are caused as a result of broken down vehicles is less than 2%,” Mr. Wiredu said on the Joy FM Super Morning Show Friday, August 4, 2017.

“Let the NRSC present their report that broken down vehicles are responsible for 21% of road crashes and the insurance industry will provide them with their own report and you will realize that it is less than 2%,” he dared the Commission.

To him, the existing road traffic regulations mandate vehicle owners to remove their disabled vehicles from the road failure to which the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service would be compelled to tow them and surcharge owners.

He said the Commission, as well as the MTTD, should be explaining to the public “why they are failing to use the law to stop what is causing the accidents”.

The controversial contract is being executed mainly by RSML which sub-contracts the project to six other companies – Day & Night,  Sarkozy, Abu & Serwaa, Umarib, Global Haulage and TMS & S -which are expected to also engage several sub-contractors.

Past President of Ghana Institution of Engineers, Ing. Engineer Magnus Quarshie questioned the interest by the NRSC in implementing the policy suggesting that “Commission probably does not appreciate the problem”. 

The Road Safety Campaigner told the host of the Show, Kojo Yankson that “the problem here is not safety on our roads; the problem here is behavior”.

“We have a problem; it’s a systemic problem [and] it’s a behavior problem,” he said.

Explaining how the contract will be implemented, Marketing Communications Manager for Road Safety Management Limited (RMSL), Roland Walker said his company will be working closely with the NRSC which will put together a team to supervise their operations.

The Commission will draw the attention of the RSML where it observes lapses in the delivery of service, Mr. Walker clarified. 

According to him, the RSML could face sanctions if it fails to deliver to the satisfaction of the terms of the contract.

The Communications Manager however, assured that the RMSL, together with the allied companies that have been engaged by the Commission, is well positioned deliver a flawless service to motorists nationwide when the law takes effect.  

Roland Walker (left) and Ing. Engineer Magnus Quarshie