The Tarkwa Circuit Court presided over by Judge Hathia Ama Manu sentenced a commercial driver to a fine of 1,200 Cedis for his involvement in a road traffic accident that occurred in the Western Region. The Ghana News Agency reported that the convict faced charges of careless and inconsiderate driving after his vehicle was involved in a crash that resulted in physical injuries to three passengers.
According to the prosecution led by Chief Inspector Joseph K. Boateng the incident happened when the driver lost control of his Toyota Hiace vehicle while traveling through the Tarkwa municipality. The Ghana News Agency stated that the court also ordered the convict to pay compensation to the victims involved in the accident in addition to the primary fine. Failure to pay the fine would result in a custodial sentence of six months in prison.
Court records cited by the Ghana News Agency indicated that the driver pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service. The prosecution told the court that the driver failed to exercise due care and attention while navigating a busy section of the road which led to the vehicle veering off and causing the collision.
Medical reports presented during the proceedings confirmed that the three passengers sustained various degrees of injury and were treated at local health facilities. The Ghana News Agency noted that the judge emphasized the need for commercial drivers to prioritize passenger safety to reduce the rising number of road accidents in the country. This ruling serves as a deterrent to other motorists operating within the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality.