Motor Transport and Traffic Unit

The Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) is a unit under the Ghana Police Service. It is responsible for road safety in Ghana.^[1]

History

The unit was established in 1952.^[1] It was known as the Ghana Police Traffic Unit.^[2] In 1981, the Justice Archer commission, reviewed the Unit's function and accredited it as the National MTTU.^[1]

Head

The unit is headed by the Commander of the MTTU. The unit's head reports to the Inspector General of Police. The current head of the unit is ACP Awuni.^[3]

Functions

The unit educates road users on accident-free road practices by training motorists and pedestrians. The members of the unit are trained to spot, warn and arrest offending motorists. The unit records all accidents and publishes the statistics on a quarterly basis in print and electronic media. Personnel of the unit control traffic and enforce traffic regulations. The unit is in-charge of escort for the President of Ghana, state and foreign dignitaries. In the investigation of road accidents, the unit initiates the investigation and later hands it over to the DVLA.^[2]

Personnel

The unit has 1300 personnel nationwide. These personnel are trained by the various Ghana Police Service training academies and posted to all the district police stations to work hand in hand with the police personnel in ensuring road safety in the area.^[2]

Collaborating agencies

The unit in the pursuit of its functions works with other agencies of state to reduce road accidents. They include:^[2]

• National Road Safety Commission
• Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority
• Ghana Police Service

Accident prevention

The Motor Transport and Traffic Unit promotes road safety through a structured programme it employs named the four Es. They are:^[2]

• Enactment of laws and traffic regulations to govern road use in Ghana
• Education for road users
• Engineering the construction of feeder and urban roads, Zebra crossing and road signs
• Emergency medical services for accident victims

Accident statistics

Road accidents are a very important national issue. Statistics show that road accidents kill an average of four people a day in Ghana. In 2005, there was 16% increase in road accidents as compared to the preceding year.^[4] Between 2007 and 2010 the MTTU reported that at least 6000 people had died due to road accidents with an additional 40000 injured within the same interval.^[3]

Road offenders

From January to May 2011, the unit convicted about 1800 road users for various road offenses with fines totally 400,000 cedi (approximately 260,000 dollars) being charged.^[5] Offenders who were found guilty of grave road offenses within the period where jailed.^[5]

Challenges

The unit in the pursuit of its functions faces challenges that limits its functions. They include:

• Inadequate law enforcement equipment such as breathalyzer
• Limited towing and recovering trucks for broken down vehicles

Funding

The unit is a branch of the Ghana Police Service and is under the Ministry of Interior. It is financed by the national and police budget. The National Road Safety Commission supports the unit by providing logistics.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "MTTU". www.ghanapolice.info. http://www.ghanapolice.info/mttu/mttu.htm. Retrieved 5 June 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "MTTU - Who they are and what they do...". www.shushu-pearl.blogspot.com. http://shushu-pearl.blogspot.com/2010/02/mttu-who-they-are-and-what-they-do.html. Retrieved 11 June 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "ACP Awuni Change MTTU". www.ghanaweb.com. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=202276. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
4. ^ "GRSP". www.grsproadsafety.org. http://www.grsproadsafety.org/page-ghana-21.html. Retrieved 12 June 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "MTTU convicts 1,800 persons for road traffic offences". www.ghanaweb.com. http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=210456. Retrieved 12 June 2011.