The Attorney General’s directive to Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare to stop officers from abusing the Road Traffic Act in the exercise of their duty has received backing from the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
The Attorney General (AG) in a letter addressed to the IGP stressed that crossing the red light and driving without a valid insurance certificate are not offences for which the offending vehicles should be impounded.
He argues that such practice also puts more pressure on government coffers, as it leads to lawsuits and possible judgment debts against the State since they are misdemeanours.
“As Attorney-General and the principal legal adviser to the Government, I advise that police officers should desist from the impounding or prohibition of the use of a motor vehicle for minor offences such as an alleged violation of any of the rules of the road contained in Regulation 106, and other provisions pertaining to crossing the red light or driving a vehicle without a valid insurance certificate etc,” Mr Dame stated in the letter addressed to the IGP.
Backing this stance by the AG, Deputy PRO at GPRTU, Samuel Amoah said the conduct of the police was affecting their productivity.
“There are some offences that we think that the police can just caution or pardon the driver, especially for a first-time offence like maybe a driver crossing a red light but you will see a police officer arresting a driver for a minor offence and sometimes impound the vehicle for the whole day or even to the next day before settlement can be done.
“This is disturbing the drivers. It is something that we complain about all the time. So when we saw that communication from the Attorney General, we said ‘Yes, the Attorney General is on the right path’.
“We think that what the Attorney General is saying is hundred per cent right and the IGP has to do something about it,” he told JoyNews.
On his part, Private Legal Practitioner, Martin Kpebu says he also agrees with the AG’s request. He explained that it will help reduce extortion by police personnel.
“This is the best decision the Attorney General has taken in recent times. It is a necessary part of our movement toward development because the police have been oppressing us, and extorting money from us.
When you stop this, it means we become a better people. Our democracy becomes better. The police should take a video of the incident, get their colleague to be witnesses and let the vehicle go.
“We are not saying people should not be prosecuted. The Attorney General is saying that – impounding the vehicle, keeping it at the police station under the mercy of the weather, sometimes parts get stolen and the police cannot pay for it – this is a huge step forward.”
Meanwhile, Road Safety Advocate, Obaayaa Konadu is urging drivers to desist from deliberately jumping red lights because it poses dangers to road users.
