Timber transportation on Ghana’s roads continues to pose a significant safety risk, with heavily loaded timber trucks frequently being linked to fatal road crashes due to weak regulation and poor enforcement. Richard Anning says Ghana has failed to modernise its timber transportation system despite advances in technology, insisting that timber can be transported in safer and more efficient ways.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s EBAANOSEN, hosted by Adomba De-Starboy, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) member for the Tema Central Constituency called on the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the Ministry of Transport, the Forestry Commission, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and other relevant agencies to work together to strictly enforce existing laws governing timber transportation.
He proposed that MMDAs introduce and rigorously enforce by-laws restricting the movement of timber trucks to designated hours, such as between midnight and dawn, to reduce the risk of accidents during peak traffic periods. He also recommended limiting the movement of long articulated timber trucks on major highways during busy hours and strengthening inspections at timber loading points to ensure vehicles are properly loaded and secured before setting off.
According to Mr. Anning, Ghana should adopt modern timber transportation methods, including improved packaging and containerised transport where feasible, instead of relying on outdated and often overloaded timber trucks that continue to endanger lives.
He stressed that without coordinated action by the Forestry Commission, local assemblies and transport authorities to enforce existing regulations, road crashes involving timber trucks will continue to claim innocent lives.
By: Ernest Kumi
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