ER POLICE COMMAND UNTS FOR 38 OFFENDING DRIVERS (PAGE 22, DEC 28, 2010)

THIRTY-EIGHT drivers who were arrested this year for committing various traffic offences in different parts of the region have absconded.
The areas where the drivers were arrested included; Apedwa, Osino, Jejeti and Akyem Sekyere, all on the Accra-Kumasi Highway, Bunso, Akyem Asafo, Apeguso and Akrade.
The drivers were apprehended in a special exercise under the personal supervision of the Eastern Regional Commander of the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Superintendent James Sarfo Peprah.
Some of the traffic offences included; driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, use of underweight licenses, driving without license, insecure loading (human beings sitting on cargo), using photocopies of driving licenses and operating with empty fire extinguishers.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic in Koforidua last weekend, Superintendent Peprah said bench warrants had been issued for their rearrest for prosecution.
The drivers include; Kudzinu Francis, who was driving a Madza saloon car with registration number GV 268 T, Eric Amponsah, VW Golf, GW 4873 P, Frimpong Manso, Benz saloon, GW 288 Z, Adu Afful Samuel, Toyota Hiace, GN 2848 Z, Agyeman K. Dua, Toyota 4 Runner, DV 2942, Joseph Kagoa, Toyota Hilux Pick-Up, GW 3312 Z, Enning Emmanuel, TD bus, 6298 10, Joseph Osei, Nissan Pick-Up, GN 3695 Y, Charles Adu Opoku, Nissan Urvan, GW 1695 Q, Amo Joseph, vehicle number GR 7919- 10.
He also named James Owusu operating a Hyundai 200 bus GC 4641-09, John Amadu, Nissan (private) GN 3324-09, Nyarko Akwasi, Sprinter bus, AS 2486-10, Sosuh Aba Egyirba, vehicle number GW 4898-W, Gajesu Komla, Mercedez Benz (private) GW 4511-V, Sackey Prince Nii Mensah, Tata Pick-Up, GE 8950-W, Lawrence A. Baiden, Hyundai Tuck, GS3630-Z, Jonathan Tetteh, Musso Pick-Up GT 1311-W, Kofi Osei Ababio, Toyota Corolla, GW 6535-V, Kwarteng Yaw, Ford (private) GE 7607-V and Kofi Cutburt, Opel Astra, GW 6256-Y, as some of the drivers who have absconded.
Others are; Addo Bernard, Nissan Serena, GE 9769-Z, Emmanuel Wover, Landrover GT 4839-10, Mensah Adjei Kwabena, Hyndai Elantra DV 8170, Eunice Amuzu Great Wall GE 8602-Z, Menka Adjei Kwabena, Hyundai Elantra DV 8170, Wiafe Carl, Mitsubishi ER 1531-Z, Daniel Otchere, Nissan Pathfinder DV 1479-10, Abubakar Zakaria, Toyota Corolla AS 8109-09, Sadic Adams, Nissan Premiera GR 6289-W, Botoyoe Star Kojo, Suzuki 3278-Y and Alhassan Abdulai, Nissan Pick Up GR 9593.
The rest are; Mahoukous Dacruz Pertus, Toyota  Rava GR 8843-W, Bediako A. Asare, Madza Tribute DV 1332, Amoah Ernest, Toyota (private) DV 1580-10, Nyarko Yaw Range Rover GE 8300-V, Kanyagui Samuel, Toyota Corolla GS 1900-Z and Tetteh Sundey, Hyundai 100 bus, GW 8223-Y.
According to Superintendent Peprah, although the offending drivers had managed to dodge the police for a long period, they would eventually be apprehended.
He, therefore, advised them to hand themselves over to the police.
To ensure an accident free Christmas and New Year, Superintendent Peprah said his outfit at the weekend organised similar exercises at Somanya, Odumase-Krobo and Kpong.
The exercises, which he said were supported by personnel of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) under the direct supervision of Mr Jacob Abegyah, the Eastern Regional Director, led to the arrest of drivers of 35 vehicles ranging from private saloon cars to heavy duty vehicles.
Superintendent Sarfo Peprah said his men had been placed at vantage points, especially on the Eastern Region stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, which according to him, had witnessed a gradual reduction in motor accidents.
He warned that any driver found wanting would not be spared.
  Comparing road accident cases and their attendant death tolls in the first 11 months of 2009 to that of 2010 in the region, Superintendent Peprah said while 2009 registered 1371 cases with 317 deaths, that of 2010 were 1,229 and 216 deaths, a drop of 101.
He explained that the significant reductions were due to intensification of educational campaigns mounted by his outfit on the issue and the positioning of police personnel on strategic areas on the roads and highways, especially the Eastern Region stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway.