Road safety: public scare of log-carrying skidder at Ejisu and the dangers of carting timber

A skidder breached road traffic regulations and posed danger to commuters and residents in the Ejisu Municipality of Ashanti region, as the driver maneuvered his way around in an attempt to cart the timber. 

A viral video shows traders, motorists and commuters panicking as the log-carrying skidder drove through the busy traffic intersection.

 

Some children on a school bus were also heard screaming in scare at the scene.

 

According to eyewitnesses, a timber-carrying truck had a burst tyre and required the offloading of the logs from the truck.

 

However, the skidder arrived to lift a log from the busy intersection, ostensibly to a nearby factory.

 

Some residents are incensed at the scene.

 

“How do we will allow such things to happen in this modern times? Why do we put people’s lives in danger? This should not be happening, not in an area like this,” said Ama, a petty trader at Ejisu.

 

Municipal Chief Executive for Ejisu, Samuel Oduro Frimpong, acknowledged the danger posed by the skidder as he initiates investigations into the incident.

 

He is also taking steps to offer support to the school children who witnessed the incident.

 

“I will go to the school whose bus was full of school kids screaming and frightened after encountering the incident at Ejisu. They need psychological help,” Mr. Oduro told Luv Fm.

 

The MCE, however, says his initial enquiries suggest a police officer at the scene supervised the skidder in transporting the timber.

 

He says appropriate sanctions will be meted out after the investigation.

 

There are already calls for the government to properly regulate the transporting of timber.

 

“What happened could have be disastrous. The government must call them to order, they cannot continue to use old trucks to transport logs," said Isaac Assuming, a driver.

Ashanti Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, Augustine Kofi Gyedu, explained though the main duty of the Commission is in the harvesting of timber, “if trucks transporting the timber have no road-worthy certificate, we do not also give a clearance certificate”.

 

The National Road Safety Authority also says it is not enough for timber trucks to have roadworthy certificates.

 

“We must start accessing the competences of the drivers of these trucks and these truck owners must also ensure the trucks are in good shape,” said Kwame Kodua Atuahene, Head of Regulation, Inspection and Compliance at the NRSA.

 

He assured of a new regime in the nature of trucks and mode of transporting timber.

 

“Going forward, we must review the time and mode of transporting these logs. The danger they pose is to all of us and we must check it,” said Mr. Atuahene.