GSA to launch “Ghana Automotive Code” to regulate motorists

The Director General of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Alex Dodoo, has said his organization will release the Ghana Automotive Code in the coming weeks to better govern motorists’ activities in the country.

It comes after the Ministry of Trade and Industry gave the GSA a policy mandate to operate as the country’s vehicle regulator.

Prof. Dodoo told Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on Asaase Breakfast Show yesterday that “Okadas are not regulated, and as a result, most of its drivers do not follow traffic directives… they behave as if the road is theirs, putting lives at risk.”

He said about 50 per cent of road crashes in the country can be attributed to commercial motorbikes, popularly known as “Okada”

“In the next few weeks, you will see us launching the Ghana Automotive Code. The amount of deaths attributed to Okada is too much … and this is because they are not regulated,” he said.

Unemployment

According to Prof. Dodoo, the country’s strict enforcement of regulations can help reduce unemployment.

“We have reached a time period where the safety of Ghanaians can only be ensured by following the rules, and these rules must be enforced. I dare say that if we, as a country, decide to enforce the directives of our LI’s (Legislative Instruments), we can create multiple job opportunities,” he said.