President John Agyekum Kufuor was involved in a tragic car accident while on his way to the office on Wednesday morning in Accra.
This sad incident among others justify why road traffic accident must be considered as public safety issue in the country.
Road accident has claimed more lives in Ghana than coronavirus. Nearly 12,100 road accidents involving over 20,400 vehicles were recorded from January to October 2020.
The crashes, according to verified statistics sighted by Kasatintin.com led to 2,080 fatalities and 12,380 injuries.
On the part of drivers, increasing cases of rash driving, inability to read road signs and drunk driving have been blamed for the unending fatalities on the road.
On November 14, 2007, former Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor, also then Chairman of the African Union, escaped unhurt when a private car crashed into his vehicle, rolling it over several times.
‘The car finally rested on the sidewalk and the people around helped his security men to pull him out. The president came out holding his head’, an eyewitness said.
A man using a Mercedes Benz, ignored the siren of the presidential convoy and drove straight into Kufuor’s vehicle at the Opeibea House traffic light Intersection on the Airport – 37 Military Hospital road.
The injured, including the President’s driver, were moved to the 37 Military Hospital for medical check-up.
Ex-President Kufuor underwent medical tests and on the same day, then Presidential Press Secretary Andrew Awuni reported that Kufuor was healthy and had already started working in his office.
‘…the President is doing well. He is right in his seat here at the Castle’, Mr Awuni assured.
The man who caused the accident was put before a Motor Court in Accra and charged with four counts of dangerous driving, negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to give way to the presidential convoy.
Investigations further revealed that the accused was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, and when tested with an Alco Sensor III, his alcohol level read 0.41% instead of the legal limit of 0.08%.
It was alleged that the accused person admitted to taking at least one bottle of alcoholic beverage before the incident.
Our roads have become a dangerous trap. Let’s all help to make our roads safer. Support the the Kasatintin Road Safety Campaign–Arrive in peace, not in pieces!
See photos of President John Agyekum Kufuor’s car accident below.
SOURCE: Kasatintin.com
