By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
ECOWAS member states have adopted a
“Smart Action” strategy to ensure the reduction of road traffic deaths and injuries within the region by 2030.
The Smart Action strategy was adopted at a 2Day regional sensitization workshop organized by the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization for effective implementation of the new ECOWAS Road Safety Policy, Action Plan and Charter in Accra, Ghana from 8 – 9 September 2022.
The new ECOWAS Road Safety Policy, Charter, Action Plan, and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) Framework prepared under the Regional Transport Governance for West Africa Technical Assistance Project with financing support from EU, was approved at the 60th summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on 12th December 2021.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalization, Mr. Sediko Douka who was represented by Mr. Chris Appiah, Acting . Director, Transport, in his welcome address, said that the objective of the workshop is to seek the consent of Member States, Stakeholders and Partners on the newly approved Regional Road Safety Policy, Charter, and its Action Plan.
Duoka said,’ that the intention is to bring all hands-on deck as we fight together and better coordinate actions towards the reduction of fatalities on our national and regional road corridors. “
He explained that the aim is to align an ECOWAS’ response to the United Nations Second Decade of Action for Road Safety with the global goal to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by at least 50 per cent by 2030.
He said he was optimistic At the end of the day, we will agree on workable modalities to satisfactorily accomplish the interventions in our Action Plan within the stated timeframes, taking due cognisance of our strengths, opportunities, and any envisaged threats.”
There were also presentations from the African Union Commission, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the SSATP of the World Bank to ensure alignment and synergies with continental and international initiatives.
Honourable Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport, Republic of Ghana, recounted the efforts made to prepare a harmonized Road Safety Policy and Charter for the sub-region .
He said, “For us in Ghana, we are being guided by the fact that safer and efficient mobility systems have direct impact on our national economies.
Furthermore Asiama reiterated Ghanaian Government commitment to the promotion of road safety , adding that the country has empowered of it’s lead road safety with an enhanced mandate to ensure institutional compliance of road safety standards with a provision to sanction non-compliance.
We are also reviewing our Road Traffic Act and Regulations to reflect changes and emerging trends in the road transport industry, he said.
” In addition, Ghana has developed its 3rd Strategy for road safety management dubbed the National Road Safety Strategy IV (2021- 2030). This Strategy is in line with the UN 2nd Decade of Action for Road Safety which has the goal of reducing fatalities and injuries by 50% by the end of 2030.”
Areas of focus at the technical session were actions to regulate the age of used imported vehicles, use of motorbikes and 3-wheelers, safety responsive harmonized road design standards, sustainable funding for road safety activities, harmonization of regional driver training, road crash data harmonization and others.
An updated Regional Action Plan with milestones, targets and deadlines for activities was agreed for implementation by ECOWAS and Member States with inputs from development partners and Civil Society actors, from the first quarter of 2023.
