GFA Teams Up with NRSA to Champion Road Safety Awareness
In a proactive move to combat the rising number of road accidents in Ghana, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has joined forces with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to roll out a comprehensive road safety initiative.
This campaign targets stakeholders in the Ghana Premier League, Division One League, and Women’s Premier League, seeking to inspire change within the football community and beyond.
Educating for Safer Roads
The campaign kicked off with a one-day driver refresher training program designed to equip participants with essential skills and knowledge for safe road use.
Officials from the Ghana National Fire Service and St. John Hospital led sessions on fire drills and emergency response, ensuring drivers were well-prepared to handle unforeseen incidents.
Additionally, Superintendent Hannah Adjei, from the Ghana Police Service Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) Commander for the Central East Region in Kasoa, delivered an in-depth session on road traffic regulations.
She outlined common causes of road accidents, including wrongful overtaking, excessive speeding, running red lights, impaired driving, and vehicle defects.
She also shared practical strategies to mitigate these risks and reduce fatalities on the nation’s roads.
Engaging Participants and Addressing Concerns
The training session featured an interactive question-and-answer segment, where attendees raised concerns about road safety challenges.
Facilitators addressed these issues, fostering a collaborative atmosphere and ensuring participants left with a clearer understanding of their responsibilities.
In recognition of their participation, certificates were awarded to all attendees, underscoring the importance of continuous learning in promoting road safety.
The program was jointly organised by the NRSA and the GFA Foundation, showcasing the partnership’s commitment to this critical cause.
The General Secretary of the GFA, Prosper Harrison Addo Esq, emphasized the importance of road safety, particularly in the football fraternity. “Football is a universal language that transcends cultures, ages, and backgrounds. We believe that by partnering with the NRSA, we can use football as a platform to amplify road safety messages and promote safe driving practices across Ghana,” he said.
The GFA has committed to ensuring the participation of all 18 Premier clubs, 48 Division One League clubs, and 20 Women’s Premier League clubs in the campaign. The association will also promote the campaign through its social media platforms, match day promotions, and partnerships with national team players.
According to the acting Director-General of the NRSA, Ing. David Osafo Adonteng, the partnership is timely, given the high incidence of road accidents during the festive season. “This campaign goes beyond the festive period; it’s a month-on-month initiative that will support our efforts to reduce road accidents and fatalities,” he said
A Collective Responsibility
Meanwhile, GFA President Kurt Okraku, speaking at the launch, applauded the NRSA’s relentless efforts to promote safer roads.
He called on the football community to embrace their role as ambassadors for road safety, urging participants to internalise the lessons from the training and share the message far and wide.
“We should go out as proud ambassadors of the Road Safety campaign. Take in as much as you can from this program, and preaching this gospel becomes our shared duty,” said Okraku.
The GFA President didn’t shy away from addressing the harsh realities of road accidents, stressing their irreversible nature:
“When we understand that a lost colleague can never return, we truly grasp the importance of staying alive. We must ensure that, unless God Himself calls us, we don’t lose lives to preventable accidents.”
Leveraging Football as a Force for Change
Simeon Kurt Okraku emphasised the Football Association’s commitment to using the sport’s immense popularity as a platform to spread life-saving messages.
“Football is the sport loved by nearly everyone in Ghana. My presence here today underscores the FA’s dedication to this cause. We will harness football’s incredible reach to amplify the ‘Stay Alive’ campaign.”
Encouraging the broader football fraternity to take action, he issued a challenge to players, coaches, officials, and fans alike:
“Let us use football as the vehicle to drive this agenda forward. We must show our partners at the Road Safety Authority that football can be a catalyst for meaningful change.”
A Partnership Beyond Football
The collaboration between the GFA and NRSA is a testament to the power of sport as a tool for societal impact.
By merging football’s influence with the NRSA’s expertise, the campaign seeks not just to raise awareness but to foster a culture of accountability and mindfulness on Ghana’s roads.
As the initiative unfolds, the hope is that football enthusiasts across the nation will champion the cause, ensuring that every journey is a safe one, both on and off the pitch.
The event was also attended by Martin-Afram (Esq), Director, Planning and Programmes, NRSA, Perpetual Ofori-Akoto, Planning and Programmes Manager, Dennis Yeribu, Principal Planning Manager, Ms. Simbiat Wiredu, Head of Corporate Affairs and Mrs. Comfort Owusu, Assistant Affairs Manager, NRSA.
