The Street Sense Organisation, a local road safety non-government organisation (NGO), has donated 1,000 specialised reflective vests valued at $15,000 to the Ghana Police Service. The donation, targeted at the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), aims to support police officers working on the streets, particularly at night and in areas with poor visibility. This initiative forms part of Street Sense's continued support for the Ghana Police Service.
The donation was presented by Mr Samson Oddoye, National Coordinator of Street Sense Organisation, who stated that the organisation's primary objective was to support efforts to improve road safety and promote responsible driving behaviour. Street Sense has collaborated with various institutions, including the Police, National Road Safety Authority, and Ministry of Transport, to educate the public and contribute to road safety interventions.
Mr Oddoye mentioned that the latest batch of vests had been redesigned to provide better protection and visibility, taking into consideration Ghana's weather and working conditions. The new vests are made from fabric considered more suitable for the country's heat and outdoor conditions. This improvement was made after observing that earlier versions of the vests deteriorated quickly.
The donation is particularly important as some police officers managing traffic at night are difficult for motorists to see, creating risks of accidents and injuries. Mr Oddoye stated that Street Sense would continue to work with the Police and other road safety institutions to support public education and interventions aimed at reducing road crashes.
Receiving the items, Mr Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), expressed appreciation to Street Sense for supporting the Police Service with the reflective vests. He mentioned that more than 3,000 police personnel were deployed daily to manage traffic across the country, making visibility an important safety consideration in the performance of their duties.
The IGP stated that police personnel were exposed to significant risks while managing traffic, particularly at night and under harsh weather conditions, and that some officers had suffered injuries in the course of their duties. He said the donation was timely, particularly as the Police prepared to introduce the Traffic Tech programme, which aims to enhance the ability of the Police to identify road traffic violations.
The IGP urged motorists to exercise greater caution on the roads and pay attention to police officers managing traffic, pedestrians, and other road users. He also appealed to commercial drivers to avoid excessive speeding and stressed that road crashes remained a major source of casualties in the country, requiring collective efforts to reduce road deaths and injuries.
Key points
- Street Sense Organisation donates 1,000 reflective vests to Ghana Police Service to enhance visibility and safety of personnel managing traffic.
- The donation aims to support police officers working on the streets, particularly at night and in areas with poor visibility.
- The IGP urges motorists to exercise greater caution on the roads and pay attention to police officers managing traffic, pedestrians, and other road users.
