{"id":89190,"date":"2025-08-11T10:33:39","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T10:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=89190"},"modified":"2025-08-11T10:33:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T10:33:39","slug":"transport-catastrophes-systemic-reforms-needed-immediately-bureau-of-public-safety-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=89190","title":{"rendered":"Transport catastrophes: Systemic reforms needed immediately \u2013 Bureau of Public Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='booster-block booster-read-block'>\n                <div class=\"twp-read-time\">\n                \t<i class=\"booster-icon twp-clock\"><\/i> <span>Read Time:<\/span>3 Minute, 24 Second                <\/div>\n\n            <\/div><div>\n<p>Executive Director of the Bureau of Public Safety (BPS), Dr Davidson Nana Yaw Akwada, has issued a stern warning in the aftermath of the August 6th Z-9 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight senior officials.<\/p>\n<p>Dr Akwada says Ghana\u2019s transport systems are plagued by \u201cdeep and unresolved safety flaws\u201d that demand urgent, comprehensive reform.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Akwada articulated a \u201cworrying theme repeating itself\u201d across air, rail, and road networks. <\/p>\n<p>He contends that each incident, while possessing its own narrative, collectively reveals a pattern rooted in weak infrastructure, human lapses, and regulatory oversight that has failed to keep pace with escalating risks.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>READ ALSO: 15 horrific crashes that broke the hearts of Ghanaians<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cThe 6th August helicopter crash drives that point home,\u201d Dr. Akwada told <strong><em>MyJoyOnline<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n<p>He emphasised that VIP and special mission flights inherently carry significant hazards, and in a system where safety supervision is thin and accident investigations are still developing, \u201cthe margin for error is unforgiving.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>While acknowledging the national grief, he stressed that \u201cgrief alone is not enough. It should trigger a hard look at the rules we follow, the way we maintain our fleets, and the decisions made before take-off.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The BPS\u2019s own data from 2017 to 2024 paints a sobering picture of over 90% of transport-related deaths in Ghana occurring on its roads. <\/p>\n<p>A closer analysis reveals that the most severe road crashes frequently happen at night (between 10 PM and 6 AM), often involving long-distance buses on substandard roads. <\/p>\n<p>Driver fatigue, speeding, and overloading are consistently identified as primary culprits.<\/p>\n<p>The rail sector, though showing a dip in accidents, offers no genuine improvement in safety, according to Dr. Akwada. <\/p>\n<p>This decline is largely attributed to a \u201cbarely functioning\u201d rail network, implying that its dangers remain, albeit latent.<\/p>\n<p>Aviation, historically with fewer mishaps, now faces a critical test. Dr. Akwada highlighted that until 2020, Ghana lacked a fully independent Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) compliant with international standards (ICAO Annex 13). <\/p>\n<p>The decision for the Ghana Armed Forces to lead the investigation into the recent helicopter crash, rather than an independent body, is a point of \u201cstrong exception\u201d for the BPS, raising concerns about transparency and unbiased learning.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Way Forward: A Multi-Faceted Approach<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Akwada firmly believes that preventing future tragedies requires an \u201call-hands-on-deck,\u201d multi-agency, and multi-faceted approach. He outlined several crucial areas for intervention:<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Investigations that dig deep, and findings that see daylight<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fully fund and protect the independence of accident investigation bodies for air, rail, and road.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Publish every investigation in full for civil aviation incidents or redacted for security sector incidents \u2014 noting that the lessons aren\u2019t just for the experts; they\u2019re for everyone who travels or operates in the system.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Infrastructure that meets the moment<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Modernize rail tracks, crossings, and signals before the next accident forces our hand.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Redesign dangerous road corridors \u2014 Kintampo-Techiman, Accra-Kumasi \u2014 with dual carriageways, accelerating lanes, rumble strips, and clear signage.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Operators who are trained \u2014 and retrained<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Make recurrent training for pilots, drivers, and engineers non-negotiable, with a focus on fatigue, hazard spotting, and real-world scenarios.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tie operator license renewals to actual safety records, not just paperwork.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rules that are enforced, not ignored<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Impose real penalties for overloading, speeding, violating duty\/rest time limits or skimping on maintenance.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carry out mandatory safety audits for transport companies \u2014 and ground those that fail.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Emergency care that buys time<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Build out regional emergency response so the \u201cgolden hour\u201d isn\u2019t just a medical ideal but a reality.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Equip rural hospitals to handle mass-casualty events without delay.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Akwada\u2019s ultimate message is stark.<\/p>\n<p> \u201cEvery crash is a moment of grief, but it\u2019s also a chance to make sure the same thing never happens again. When we stop at condolences and skip the uncomfortable work of public investigations and reform, we guarantee the same headlines will return\u2014and they\u2019ll read just as painfully.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> The path to a safer Ghana, he concludes, lies in decisive, systemic action, not just sorrow. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n        <div class=\"booster-block booster-reactions-block\">\n            <div class=\"twp-reactions-icons\">\n                \n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-1\" post-id=\"89190\" class=\"be-face-icons un-reacted\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/plugins\/booster-extension\/\/assets\/icon\/happy.svg\" alt=\"Happy\">\n                    <\/a>\n                    <div class=\"twp-reaction-title\">\n                        Happy                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"twp-count-percent\">\n                  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Public Safety (BPS)\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Transport catastrophes: Systemic reforms needed immediately \u2013 Bureau of Public Safety\">Executive Director of the Bureau of Public Safety (BPS), Dr Davidson Nana Yaw Akwada, has issued a stern warning in the aftermath of the August 6th Z-9 helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight senior officials. Dr Akwada says Ghana\u2019s transport systems are plagued by \u201cdeep and unresolved safety flaws\u201d that demand urgent, comprehensive [\u2026]<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2449,1883,117,10,9,6296],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accident","category-national","category-news","category-politics","category-popular","category-safety"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=89190"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89190\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=89190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=89190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=89190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}