As part of efforts to rein in road accidents in the Adansi enclave ahead of the yuletide, 50 commercial and institutional drivers as well as cyclists have undergone free training on safe road usage. The training was put together by AngloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine in collaboration with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Ghana Ambulance Service, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), and the Obuasi Municipal Assembly. According to statistics from the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, more than 30 people died out of 145 accident cases recorded in Obuasi between January and September 2023. This, according to the Social Development and Gender Superintendent of AngloGold Ashanti, Mavis Nana Yaa Kyei, was very alarming thereby informing stakeholders to put in place proactive measures to contain the situation. She told the media on the sidelines of the training that, it formed part of the community safety programme o f AngloGold Ashanti, aimed at instilling a culture of responsible driving and adherence to traffic rules, as well as raise awareness about potential hazards on the road. She said through the training, drivers would be equipped with the necessary tools and information which would enable them to use the road safely, thereby reducing accidents and preventing deaths or injuries on the road. Ms Kyei was optimistic that the training would provide the platform to enhance cooperation and communication between drivers and relevant authorities, to address concerns and ensure strict adherence to road traffic regulations. She hinted that AngloGold Ashanti after the training, would come out with a broader road safety campaign project which would further empower drivers with the necessary knowledge and skills. 'We believe with this, we can make a significant contribution in reducing road accidents and saving lives,' she noted. Mr. Edwin Ofori, the Obuasi Manager of DVLA, lauded AngloGold Ashanti for organising and spo nsoring the training, stressing that it would empower drivers by refreshing their minds on the best practices to adopt to ensure safety on the road which would help reduce road accidents in Obuasi. He called on drivers to prioritise vehicle maintenance, which he said was crucial for keeping cars running smoothly and safely. 'Regularly check and change the oil, inspect the tires, brakes, and lights, and schedule routine maintenance like tune-ups and fluid checks. Always remember, proper maintenance can help prevent breakdowns and extend the life of the vehicle,' he advised. Chief Inspector Francis Egyir of Obuasi MTTD, who took the drivers through how to ensure safety on the road, blamed the surge in road accidents on reckless driving. He advised drivers to avoid texting or talking on the phone and other activities that could distract their attention while driving. 'It means anticipating potential hazards and taking proactive measures to avoid accidents and stay alert, follow traffic rules, and be mindfu l of other drivers,' he reiterated. Source: Ghana News Agency The Young Professional and Youth Coalition (YPYC) has charged the youth to increase climate activism in furtherance of achieving the objects of the 'Conference of the Parties' - COP 28. In a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency in Accra ahead of a one-day high level virtual youth conference, scheduled for November 27, President and Founder, YPYC, Mr Andy Osei Okrah, said diverse initiatives had been triggered locally to feed into the global challenge to strengthen youth participation in climate change programmes and urged young people to take advantage of them. 'The YPYC will join the comity of nations in a concerted campaign to roll back the pervasive effects of climate change on humanity and livelihoods.' Mr Osei Okrah said behavioral change held the key to positioning the youth as owners with a greater stake in the fortunes of the environment in the distant future to join global initiatives in restoring the ecology to its former self. He said student leaders, tertiary students, young professional s, youth and climate change advocates and ambassadors, who made up the target group, should constitute themselves into brand ambassadors of climate change content for the good of humanity. He said the conference would navigate the delicate balance of achieving a healthy, regulated climate and the ever-increasing human reliance on same for research, industrial growth and technological advances. 'We need collective mobilisation to bring issues of the environment to the front burner to let same feature prominently on the table of officialdom in tandem with political success and economic prosperity, which predominantly, has been the priority of the political class,' Mr Osei Okrah added. He noted that: 'Stopping global warming is an inherently global goal since greenhouse gasses emitted anywhere, affect people everywhere, and the survival or otherwise of one, is inextricably indexed to the other.' The YPYC Founder called for fair and inclusive decision-making process in a bid to thread down the wave of increas ed heat and drought in parts of the world. 'The single biggest health threat facing humanity, including air quality, disease, extreme weather events, forced displacement, increased hunger and poor nutrition can be reversed with the active inclusion of the youth.' Speakers for the conference include Miss Roselyn Fosuah Adjei, Director of Climate Change, Forestry Commission, Professor Daniel Ofori, Director, Forest Research institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and Miss Dora Cudjoe, lead stakeholder engagement, CIF,USA. Source: Ghana News Agency