POLICE ARREST TRUCK DRIVER (Page 29)

Story: George Ernest Asare, Kumasi

THE Kumasi Police have arrested a 25-year-old Ghanaian driver for using a cargo truck with a foreign registration number for commercial activities in the country.
The police explained that vehicles bearing foreign registration numbers were supposed to carry only goods on transit but not for any commercial activity in the country.
The vehicle, a DAF cargo truck with registration number RT 6753 AB, which was fully loaded with charcoal, was heading towards Accra.
The driver, John Kofi Owusu, had loaded charcoal which measured 16 feet above ground level instead of the stipulated height of 11.9 feet.
The police said the driver’s action led to the destruction of some telephone lines and threatened the lives of other road users and would be arraigned as soon as investigations were completed.
He has been charged with loading above the stipulated height, insecure loading, causing damage to government property, carrying greater number of passengers, over crowding front seat and failing to stop.
The police have also impounded the cargo truck.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit, Mr James Sarfo Peprah, who briefed the Daily Graphic on the incident, said the police spotted the driver at Afrancho on the Techiman-Kumasi road and when he was flagged to stop, he ignored the directive and sped on.
He said the cargo car, which was loaded above the stipulated height, caused massive destruction to telephone lines on the way but the driver ignored the outcry of the public who drew his attention to the destruction.
He said the driver was arrested by the Police at Suame, who blocked the road when they were alerted. He provided his name and identified himself as a Ghanaian after his arrest.
Mr Peprah expressed concern about the negative attitude of the driver and gave the assurance that he would be put before court to serve as a deterrent to others.
In another development, the police at Suame have arrested a 33-year-old driver for loading his vehicle above the stipulated height.
According to the police, the driver, Seidu Muhammed, who was driving a KIA cargo truck with registration number AS 3684 Y, had loaded charcoal to a height of 10 feet instead of the stipulated 9 feet.