THE management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital is to secure $560 million to convert its Central Outpatient Department into an emergency medicine unit, Prof Afua Hesse, the acting Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, has announced.
The authorities are currently holding discussions with the country’s development partners to support the project.
Addressing the annual performance review meeting of the hospital in Accra yesterday, Prof Hesse said the conversion of the central OPD into an emergency medicine unit formed part of processes to develop sub-specialities at the hospital and provide excellent services for clients.
She said the hospital was undergoing massive retooling, with the support of the government, to enhance medical delivery at the hospital.
Under the project, 16 of the 24 theatres in the hospital will be renovated and fixed with new and modern equipment to provide smooth services for patients.
Prof Hesse indicated that the project, named, the National Equipment Replacement Project, had already started with the installation of a new MRI and a 640-slide CT scan, in addition to other radiographical equipment.
She said work on the £3.5 million Moorfield Eye Centre, which would become the centre for quality eye care and training, was also expected to be completed and inaugurated by August this year.
On the Children’s Block at the hospital, she said a GH¢12 million children’s emergency complex had been awarded on contract.
She said management was putting up a temporary paediatric emergency unit to house patients while construction work on the new one was carried out.
“Upon completion, it will assist in addressing the perennial congestion at the Children’s Emergency Unit and also accelerate sub-speciality growth and development in child-health care,” Prof Hesse noted.
Monday 22 April 2013
Health professionals graduate from College of Health Sciences, Daily Graphic
A total of 1,064 health professionals passed out from the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana on Saturday, with a call on them to place the lives and well-being of their patients ahead of their personal interests.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, who made the call, also urged the graduates to render quality and selfless service to the nation.
The new professionals included 176 medical doctors and 20 dental surgeons who swore the Physician’s (Hippocratic) Oath.
Others were nurses, medical laboratory scientists, paediatric nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, dieticians, pharmacists, epidemiologists, among others, who received various certificates, including Master’s and PhDs.
Dr Tinuade Olukemi Okoro, who emerged the overall best student in the medical school, also received 16 other awards.
Some graduates also received prizes for their outstanding performance in their areas of specialisation.
Prof Aryeetey commended the staff and collaborators of the college for their efforts in producing health service professionals and urged them to work harder to help the nation achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He said currently the college was in the process of facilitating the 600-bed University of Ghana Teaching Hospital to be funded by the governments of Ghana and Israel.
He said the university was working to become a research university to create a more research-rich environment to boost teaching to enhance the human resource development mandate of the university.
The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Sharon Bar-Li, urged the graduates to give their best in the service of the country and humanity and also maintain a high level of professionalism.
Madam Bar- Li, who was the guest speaker, encouraged the graduates to accept posting to the rural and other deprived areas in the country where their services would be needed.
“Accept posting to areas where your services are needed and where you can make the best impact by not only attending to the sick and vulnerable but also helping to educate the rural folk, especially on practices that help prevent some diseases,” she said.
She commended the country for holding a peaceful 2012 general election and also making steady progress in national endeavours.
On the $178 million University of Ghana Teaching Hospital, Madam Bar-Li said the project, when completed, would be assisted by the Sheba Medical Centre, the largest health facility in Israel, to ensure that it measured up to global standards in medicine and health service.
For his part, a provost of the university, Professor Aaron L. Lawson, called on the government to make provision for funds for the completion of the School of Allied Health Sciences and Dental Projects to increase access to the school.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, who made the call, also urged the graduates to render quality and selfless service to the nation.
The new professionals included 176 medical doctors and 20 dental surgeons who swore the Physician’s (Hippocratic) Oath.
Others were nurses, medical laboratory scientists, paediatric nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, dieticians, pharmacists, epidemiologists, among others, who received various certificates, including Master’s and PhDs.
Dr Tinuade Olukemi Okoro, who emerged the overall best student in the medical school, also received 16 other awards.
Some graduates also received prizes for their outstanding performance in their areas of specialisation.
Prof Aryeetey commended the staff and collaborators of the college for their efforts in producing health service professionals and urged them to work harder to help the nation achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He said currently the college was in the process of facilitating the 600-bed University of Ghana Teaching Hospital to be funded by the governments of Ghana and Israel.
He said the university was working to become a research university to create a more research-rich environment to boost teaching to enhance the human resource development mandate of the university.
The Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Sharon Bar-Li, urged the graduates to give their best in the service of the country and humanity and also maintain a high level of professionalism.
Madam Bar- Li, who was the guest speaker, encouraged the graduates to accept posting to the rural and other deprived areas in the country where their services would be needed.
“Accept posting to areas where your services are needed and where you can make the best impact by not only attending to the sick and vulnerable but also helping to educate the rural folk, especially on practices that help prevent some diseases,” she said.
She commended the country for holding a peaceful 2012 general election and also making steady progress in national endeavours.
On the $178 million University of Ghana Teaching Hospital, Madam Bar-Li said the project, when completed, would be assisted by the Sheba Medical Centre, the largest health facility in Israel, to ensure that it measured up to global standards in medicine and health service.
For his part, a provost of the university, Professor Aaron L. Lawson, called on the government to make provision for funds for the completion of the School of Allied Health Sciences and Dental Projects to increase access to the school.
MoH rolls out contingency measures, Daily Graphic
The Ministry of Health has rolled out a contingency plan to reduce the impact of the doctors’ strike on healthcare delivery.
As part of the plan, the ministry is providing beds and medicines for the 37 Military and the Ridge hospitals to take care of the influx of patients to the two health facilities.
The Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayittey, made this known when she paid a visit to the 37 Military and the Ridge hospitals to assess how they were coping with healthcare delivery following the strike by doctors and pharmacists.
She assured the public not to panic, since the 37 Military Hospital was taking care of regular cases, while the Ridge Hospital was attending to emergency cases.
Additionally, the ministry has asked regional health directors to be available during the period of the strike.
She expressed the hope that the dialogue between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) would be successful for the doctors to return to work.
At the Ridge Hospital, Ms Ayittey said that the ministry would provide air-conditioners for the Children’s Ward and also provide a shed for pregnant women who attended the hospital for post-natal and anti-natal care.
Ms Ayittey assured health personnel in the various hospitals of the ministry’s support to enable them to discharge their duties.
About 3,000 doctors in public health institutions went on strike on Monday, April 8 to protest delays in the payment of their market premium arrears for 2012.
The GMA and the Government Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHPA) have withdrawn all outpatient services at the health institutions, attending to only emergencies and in-patient cases.
However, the doctors have indicated that if their grievances are not immediately addressed, they will, eventually, suspend all emergency services on April 15.
The Commander of the 37 Military Hospital, Brigade General Tao Kponyoh, told the media that the hospital had put in place measures to contain the influx of patients, adding that the authorities at the hospital were in control of the situation.
As part of the measures put in place, he said, it had called most of its health personnel on leave to return to work to help manage the situation.
At the Ridge Hospital, the Medical Director, Dr Obeng Apori, expressed gratitude to the minister for the visit and assured her that the hospital would support the patients.
As part of the plan, the ministry is providing beds and medicines for the 37 Military and the Ridge hospitals to take care of the influx of patients to the two health facilities.
The Minister of Health, Ms Sherry Ayittey, made this known when she paid a visit to the 37 Military and the Ridge hospitals to assess how they were coping with healthcare delivery following the strike by doctors and pharmacists.
She assured the public not to panic, since the 37 Military Hospital was taking care of regular cases, while the Ridge Hospital was attending to emergency cases.
Additionally, the ministry has asked regional health directors to be available during the period of the strike.
She expressed the hope that the dialogue between the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) and the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) would be successful for the doctors to return to work.
At the Ridge Hospital, Ms Ayittey said that the ministry would provide air-conditioners for the Children’s Ward and also provide a shed for pregnant women who attended the hospital for post-natal and anti-natal care.
Ms Ayittey assured health personnel in the various hospitals of the ministry’s support to enable them to discharge their duties.
About 3,000 doctors in public health institutions went on strike on Monday, April 8 to protest delays in the payment of their market premium arrears for 2012.
The GMA and the Government Hospital Pharmacists Association (GHPA) have withdrawn all outpatient services at the health institutions, attending to only emergencies and in-patient cases.
However, the doctors have indicated that if their grievances are not immediately addressed, they will, eventually, suspend all emergency services on April 15.
The Commander of the 37 Military Hospital, Brigade General Tao Kponyoh, told the media that the hospital had put in place measures to contain the influx of patients, adding that the authorities at the hospital were in control of the situation.
As part of the measures put in place, he said, it had called most of its health personnel on leave to return to work to help manage the situation.
At the Ridge Hospital, the Medical Director, Dr Obeng Apori, expressed gratitude to the minister for the visit and assured her that the hospital would support the patients.
South Africa to host conference on ICASA, Daily Graphic
THE 17th International Conference on AIDS and Sexual Transmitted disease in African (ICASA) will be held in South African on December 11, 2013.
The Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Angela El- Adas, who made this known at press conference on the ICASA 2013, which was hosted by South Africa’s High Commissioner in Ghana, said the event, which would be organised by the Society for AIDS in Africa, would provide a forum for exchanging knowledge, publishing strategic information on HIV and AIDS, updating skills as well as consolidating experiences and best practices both in African and across the world.
Dr EI-Adas said the ICASA would also provide a platform to strengthen participation of the scientific community, civil society organisations, the private sector, persons living with HIV (PLHIV) and key populations towards an effective response on the continent.
She said the ICASA 2013 would take stock of progress made towards the attainment of 2015 targets that relate to health and also create the opportunities to define priorities beyond 2015, towards a sustained response to HIV in Africa on the theme: “Now More than Ever Targeting Zero.”
She said over the years, the ICASA had served as advocacy platforms for mobilising African leaders, partners and communities.
Dr El-Adas said the ICASA would take stock of progress made towards the 2015 targets while new opportunities would be created to define priorities beyond 2015.
She said the Ghana AIDS Commission had assumed a coordination role to enable Ghanaian delegates to participate in the sessions of the conference.
In his address, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Country Director, Mr Girmay Haile, said HIV infections needed to be controlled to prevent the disease from reaching an epidemic situation.
Therefore, he said the Africa continent needed to focus on scientific evidence to achieve further progress in the responses else the continent would face social dangers of a roll back of the epidemic.
“Unless societies and countries on the continent come to terms with real facts of life and available science evidence, we will not achieve further progress in the response and even face social dangers of a roll back of the epidemic,” he said.
He added that while targeting zero new infections, zero deaths due to AIDS and zero discriminations and stigma against PLHIVs, there was also the need to address issues confronting the segment of the population who were at risk.
He called on all stakeholders, including political leaders, parliamentarians and government officials, to support the movement towards zero new infections and zero deaths from HIV and AIDS, adding that they should demonstrate personal commitment to bring about change.
In her address, the South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Madam Jeanette Ndhlovu, pledged her support to participants and delegates who would to attend the conference.
The Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr Angela El- Adas, who made this known at press conference on the ICASA 2013, which was hosted by South Africa’s High Commissioner in Ghana, said the event, which would be organised by the Society for AIDS in Africa, would provide a forum for exchanging knowledge, publishing strategic information on HIV and AIDS, updating skills as well as consolidating experiences and best practices both in African and across the world.
Dr EI-Adas said the ICASA would also provide a platform to strengthen participation of the scientific community, civil society organisations, the private sector, persons living with HIV (PLHIV) and key populations towards an effective response on the continent.
She said the ICASA 2013 would take stock of progress made towards the attainment of 2015 targets that relate to health and also create the opportunities to define priorities beyond 2015, towards a sustained response to HIV in Africa on the theme: “Now More than Ever Targeting Zero.”
She said over the years, the ICASA had served as advocacy platforms for mobilising African leaders, partners and communities.
Dr El-Adas said the ICASA would take stock of progress made towards the 2015 targets while new opportunities would be created to define priorities beyond 2015.
She said the Ghana AIDS Commission had assumed a coordination role to enable Ghanaian delegates to participate in the sessions of the conference.
In his address, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Country Director, Mr Girmay Haile, said HIV infections needed to be controlled to prevent the disease from reaching an epidemic situation.
Therefore, he said the Africa continent needed to focus on scientific evidence to achieve further progress in the responses else the continent would face social dangers of a roll back of the epidemic.
“Unless societies and countries on the continent come to terms with real facts of life and available science evidence, we will not achieve further progress in the response and even face social dangers of a roll back of the epidemic,” he said.
He added that while targeting zero new infections, zero deaths due to AIDS and zero discriminations and stigma against PLHIVs, there was also the need to address issues confronting the segment of the population who were at risk.
He called on all stakeholders, including political leaders, parliamentarians and government officials, to support the movement towards zero new infections and zero deaths from HIV and AIDS, adding that they should demonstrate personal commitment to bring about change.
In her address, the South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Madam Jeanette Ndhlovu, pledged her support to participants and delegates who would to attend the conference.
Ghana unable to achieve goals to reduce maternal, infant deaths, Daily Graphic
Ghana may not be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set for the reduction of maternal and infant deaths, the Greater Accra Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Linda Vanotoo has said.
MDG Four requires countries to reduce child deaths by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015, while Goal Five states that maternal deaths should also be reduced by three-quarters between the same period.
Dr Vanotoo stated that unless drastic efforts were made at all levels by all stakeholders, Ghana would be one of the countries worldwide that would not achieve MDG four and five.
She noted that the country still faced challenges of road access and infrastructure; access to health facilities, cultural beliefs and practices, weak referral system between health facilities, lack of blood products, inadequate number of midwives, and weak implementation of health interventions.
Dr Vanotoo was speaking at the Fifth Annual Forum of the Greater Accra Region of the Ghana Coalition of Non-governmental Organisations in Health in Accra on Wednesday.
The forum discussed the theme: “Civil societies for strong recognition of sexual and reproductive health rights and the unmet health MDG targets and indictors in the post-2015 development framework”.
Dr Vanotoo cited, for instance, that the Greater Accra Region recorded 1,857 child deaths in 2011 and 1,987 in 2012.
She also emphasised the need to minimise the weaknesses in the health delivery system by improving on the blood transfusion services, specialist outreach and infrastructure development, including hospital facilities and roads.
She advised pregnant women to follow medical instructions and check their diet since these were major causes of complications that led to maternal death.
Dr Vanotoo urged the NGOs to support community structures to increase early utilisation of health facilities and also build strong partnerships with local health authorities.
The Vice-Chairman of the Greater Accra Region branch of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs, Mr Braimah Abdulah, called on political leaders and the government to support dedicated and specific health goals which focused on ending HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal death and reproductive ill health.
Mr Abdulah also urged the government to resource the NGOs adequately to enable them improve their health education and sensitisation activities.
MDG Four requires countries to reduce child deaths by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015, while Goal Five states that maternal deaths should also be reduced by three-quarters between the same period.
Dr Vanotoo stated that unless drastic efforts were made at all levels by all stakeholders, Ghana would be one of the countries worldwide that would not achieve MDG four and five.
She noted that the country still faced challenges of road access and infrastructure; access to health facilities, cultural beliefs and practices, weak referral system between health facilities, lack of blood products, inadequate number of midwives, and weak implementation of health interventions.
Dr Vanotoo was speaking at the Fifth Annual Forum of the Greater Accra Region of the Ghana Coalition of Non-governmental Organisations in Health in Accra on Wednesday.
The forum discussed the theme: “Civil societies for strong recognition of sexual and reproductive health rights and the unmet health MDG targets and indictors in the post-2015 development framework”.
Dr Vanotoo cited, for instance, that the Greater Accra Region recorded 1,857 child deaths in 2011 and 1,987 in 2012.
She also emphasised the need to minimise the weaknesses in the health delivery system by improving on the blood transfusion services, specialist outreach and infrastructure development, including hospital facilities and roads.
She advised pregnant women to follow medical instructions and check their diet since these were major causes of complications that led to maternal death.
Dr Vanotoo urged the NGOs to support community structures to increase early utilisation of health facilities and also build strong partnerships with local health authorities.
The Vice-Chairman of the Greater Accra Region branch of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs, Mr Braimah Abdulah, called on political leaders and the government to support dedicated and specific health goals which focused on ending HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal death and reproductive ill health.
Mr Abdulah also urged the government to resource the NGOs adequately to enable them improve their health education and sensitisation activities.
Poor funding affects quality of laboratory services, Daily Graphic
The Ghana Association of Biomedical Laboratory Scientists has stated that small amount of the national health insurance tariff paid to hospitals and the delays involved in paying the tariff have led to poor funding of medical laboratories.
The situation has forced medical laboratory scientists to re-use medical test tubes, run laboratory tests without controls and split medical test strips into two with scissors in order to serve more patients at the expense of the quality of the test result.
The President the association, Mr Prince Sodoke Amuzu, stated this at a media encounter as apart of the activities marking this year’s World Laboratory Science Day.
This year’s event is scheduled to take place on April 15, 2013.
The media encounter was aimed at educating journalists on the role of the biomedical laboratory scientist in the health service.
Mr Amuzu said medical laboratory scientists owed society a duty to use biomedical laboratory science for the benefit of humanity to enhance healthcare delivery.
However, he said most medical laboratories in the country lacked funds and adequate supplies of medical laboratory equipment and reagents to enhance their work.
“Many hospitals run short of medical laboratory supplies regularly, leaving some practitioners in a dilemma and leading to attempts to economise consumables,” he said.
Mr Amuzu said hospital management and procurement teams did not always seek the inclusion of qualified biomedical laboratory scientists when taking decisions concerning the provision of quality healthcare reagents and equipment.
He indicated that laboratory services were poorly understood, for which reason management turned to poorly fund the service, leading to poor quality health care.
“Suppliers lack the assistance of qualified professionals in selecting and evaluating medical laboratory products. Products of questionable quality sell cheaper and so they normally get widely used in the country,” he noted.
Mr Amuzu added that the association had decided to dialogue with the National Health Insurance Authority for a review of the bundle and capitation modules as they related to the provision of medical laboratory services.
The situation has forced medical laboratory scientists to re-use medical test tubes, run laboratory tests without controls and split medical test strips into two with scissors in order to serve more patients at the expense of the quality of the test result.
The President the association, Mr Prince Sodoke Amuzu, stated this at a media encounter as apart of the activities marking this year’s World Laboratory Science Day.
This year’s event is scheduled to take place on April 15, 2013.
The media encounter was aimed at educating journalists on the role of the biomedical laboratory scientist in the health service.
Mr Amuzu said medical laboratory scientists owed society a duty to use biomedical laboratory science for the benefit of humanity to enhance healthcare delivery.
However, he said most medical laboratories in the country lacked funds and adequate supplies of medical laboratory equipment and reagents to enhance their work.
“Many hospitals run short of medical laboratory supplies regularly, leaving some practitioners in a dilemma and leading to attempts to economise consumables,” he said.
Mr Amuzu said hospital management and procurement teams did not always seek the inclusion of qualified biomedical laboratory scientists when taking decisions concerning the provision of quality healthcare reagents and equipment.
He indicated that laboratory services were poorly understood, for which reason management turned to poorly fund the service, leading to poor quality health care.
“Suppliers lack the assistance of qualified professionals in selecting and evaluating medical laboratory products. Products of questionable quality sell cheaper and so they normally get widely used in the country,” he noted.
Mr Amuzu added that the association had decided to dialogue with the National Health Insurance Authority for a review of the bundle and capitation modules as they related to the provision of medical laboratory services.
Noguchi inaugurates solar electricity system Daily Graphic April 18,2013
A Solar Electricity Generation system to provide 315 kilowatt electric energy for the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) of the University of Ghana has been inaugurated.
The $7.6million project, which was funded by the Government of Japan, constitutes the first and second phase to provide additional energy for the institute to carry out its mandate into research.
At a ceremony in Accra last Tuesday to inaugurate the project, the Director of the NMIMR, Professor Kwadwo Ansah Koram, said the system would help reduce energy cost to the University and reduce carbon emission.
He said the second phase of the project which was yet to commence would provide an additional 400KWh, totalling up to 720KWh energy to the institute .
“This would add on to the electrical power generation in the country and the excess beyond the immediate requirement of the institute will feed into the grid supply to the rest of the university, “ he said.
Besides the immediate cost savings, the Director said there would be reduction in carbon emission which would virtually lead to less deleterious impact on environment.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, said the system would enhance the institute’s mandate of conducting research into communicable and non-communicable diseases in Africa as well as support the institute to provide high laboratory diagnostic and monitoring services.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, said the solar system was the first large scale project since the passage of the Renewable Energy law, Act 832.
He explained that the law sought to create the enabling environment for the development of renewable energy resources in Ghana.
He described the project as a demonstration of the role of solar energy to cost effective energy conservation and management as well as reliability and security of electricity supply.
For his part, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Naoto Nikai, urged the government to make provision for the necessary resources to maintain the solar generation plant.
CAPTION:
The $7.6million project, which was funded by the Government of Japan, constitutes the first and second phase to provide additional energy for the institute to carry out its mandate into research.
At a ceremony in Accra last Tuesday to inaugurate the project, the Director of the NMIMR, Professor Kwadwo Ansah Koram, said the system would help reduce energy cost to the University and reduce carbon emission.
He said the second phase of the project which was yet to commence would provide an additional 400KWh, totalling up to 720KWh energy to the institute .
“This would add on to the electrical power generation in the country and the excess beyond the immediate requirement of the institute will feed into the grid supply to the rest of the university, “ he said.
Besides the immediate cost savings, the Director said there would be reduction in carbon emission which would virtually lead to less deleterious impact on environment.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, said the system would enhance the institute’s mandate of conducting research into communicable and non-communicable diseases in Africa as well as support the institute to provide high laboratory diagnostic and monitoring services.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, said the solar system was the first large scale project since the passage of the Renewable Energy law, Act 832.
He explained that the law sought to create the enabling environment for the development of renewable energy resources in Ghana.
He described the project as a demonstration of the role of solar energy to cost effective energy conservation and management as well as reliability and security of electricity supply.
For his part, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Naoto Nikai, urged the government to make provision for the necessary resources to maintain the solar generation plant.
CAPTION:
Motorists raise concern over spot fines, Daily Graphic, April 22, 2013
Motorists have raised issues with the decision by the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Ghana Police Service to implement the policy of spot fines as penalty for minor traffic offenders from next month.
Some motorists argue that the implementation of the spot fine would encourage bribery and corruption among the police, since offenders might want to pay much less the penalty value to the person collecting the fine.
They also argue that the 24-hour deadline for the offender to pay the penalty is too short.
While the Director of the MTTU, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Angwubotoge Awuni, acknowledges the issues raised by the motorists, he says the MTTU will go ahead to implement the law while its rough edges are addressed.
The introduction of the spot fines is in line with Regulation 157 of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2180 passed by Parliament in 2012. The regulation states: “A person who commits a road traffic offence specified in the Seventh Schedule is liable to pay a spot fine.”
According to Regulation (3), “Where a person commits a road traffic offence which attracts a spot fine, a police officer in whose present offence was committed shall:
(a) Issue that person with a spot fine notice; and (b) Record the offence in the counterpart driver’s licence (booklet for recording road violation) of that person.
According to the law, the ticket is to be issued by a police officer in uniform who believes an offence has been committed and should be a police officer of the rank of Inspector or above.
(4) Where a police officer in uniform believes an offence which attracts a spot fine has been committed by a person and the vehicle of that person is stationary and unattended, the police officer shall affix a spot fine notice to the windshield of the vehicle.
(5) A person issued with a spot fine notice under Sub-regulation (3) or (4) shall report to the Spot Fine Office with the spot fine notice within 24 hours.
The spot fine covers minor traffic offences such as driving a vehicle without reflectors, non-conformity with restrictions on horns and sirens, driving by under-aged persons, using communication device while driving and using motorcycle or tricycle for commercial passenger services.
A taxi driver, Mr Alex Asante, told the Daily Graphic, “I don’t agree with the police because I see the spot fine as a new way of taking money from us drivers into their own individual pockets”.
A trotro driver, Mr Joseph Antwi, wondered why an offender should be arrested after failing to pay the fine within 24 hours .
“I seriously commend the MTTU Commander on the initiative and I think he should go ahead with the implementation” Mr Charles Benoni, a journalist and motorist, said.
To him, indiscipline on the road, such as the jumping of red light, the illegal use of sirens and horns to beat traffic, among other offences, had become too rampant.
Another driver, Mr Benjamin Dzidor, described the introduction of the spot fine as good initiative which would keep drivers on their toes to help reduce indiscipline on the roads.
When contacted on the concerns of motorists, Mr Awuni said the law would still be implemented, in spite of those concerns raised.
He stated that “the fact still remains that a law has been passed and, therefore, we, as law enforcers, have to make sure that it is implemented”.
He said changes would be made as time went on, adding, “A new law like this is bound to have some potholes which would need changes as time goes on.”
Mr Awuni, however, gave an indication that the spot fine might not start from May, as was announced earlier, saying, “We may extend the time of implementation from May until further notice.”
When asked about the issue of bribery and corruption, he said although the spot fine was going to be implemented by the police, it would be regulated by the banks, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC).
On the issue of perpetual offenders, Mr Awuni said they would be relieved of their driving licences.
He urged Ghanaians to support the system which would help ensure discipline on the roads to reduce accidents in the country.
Some motorists argue that the implementation of the spot fine would encourage bribery and corruption among the police, since offenders might want to pay much less the penalty value to the person collecting the fine.
They also argue that the 24-hour deadline for the offender to pay the penalty is too short.
While the Director of the MTTU, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Angwubotoge Awuni, acknowledges the issues raised by the motorists, he says the MTTU will go ahead to implement the law while its rough edges are addressed.
The introduction of the spot fines is in line with Regulation 157 of Legislative Instrument (LI) 2180 passed by Parliament in 2012. The regulation states: “A person who commits a road traffic offence specified in the Seventh Schedule is liable to pay a spot fine.”
According to Regulation (3), “Where a person commits a road traffic offence which attracts a spot fine, a police officer in whose present offence was committed shall:
(a) Issue that person with a spot fine notice; and (b) Record the offence in the counterpart driver’s licence (booklet for recording road violation) of that person.
According to the law, the ticket is to be issued by a police officer in uniform who believes an offence has been committed and should be a police officer of the rank of Inspector or above.
(4) Where a police officer in uniform believes an offence which attracts a spot fine has been committed by a person and the vehicle of that person is stationary and unattended, the police officer shall affix a spot fine notice to the windshield of the vehicle.
(5) A person issued with a spot fine notice under Sub-regulation (3) or (4) shall report to the Spot Fine Office with the spot fine notice within 24 hours.
The spot fine covers minor traffic offences such as driving a vehicle without reflectors, non-conformity with restrictions on horns and sirens, driving by under-aged persons, using communication device while driving and using motorcycle or tricycle for commercial passenger services.
A taxi driver, Mr Alex Asante, told the Daily Graphic, “I don’t agree with the police because I see the spot fine as a new way of taking money from us drivers into their own individual pockets”.
A trotro driver, Mr Joseph Antwi, wondered why an offender should be arrested after failing to pay the fine within 24 hours .
“I seriously commend the MTTU Commander on the initiative and I think he should go ahead with the implementation” Mr Charles Benoni, a journalist and motorist, said.
To him, indiscipline on the road, such as the jumping of red light, the illegal use of sirens and horns to beat traffic, among other offences, had become too rampant.
Another driver, Mr Benjamin Dzidor, described the introduction of the spot fine as good initiative which would keep drivers on their toes to help reduce indiscipline on the roads.
When contacted on the concerns of motorists, Mr Awuni said the law would still be implemented, in spite of those concerns raised.
He stated that “the fact still remains that a law has been passed and, therefore, we, as law enforcers, have to make sure that it is implemented”.
He said changes would be made as time went on, adding, “A new law like this is bound to have some potholes which would need changes as time goes on.”
Mr Awuni, however, gave an indication that the spot fine might not start from May, as was announced earlier, saying, “We may extend the time of implementation from May until further notice.”
When asked about the issue of bribery and corruption, he said although the spot fine was going to be implemented by the police, it would be regulated by the banks, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC).
On the issue of perpetual offenders, Mr Awuni said they would be relieved of their driving licences.
He urged Ghanaians to support the system which would help ensure discipline on the roads to reduce accidents in the country.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)