The Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (ARCC) organized a two-day workshop for drivers on Tuesday 23rd August and Wednesday 24th August 2022. The workshop was held at the Conference Room of the ARCC, and it was aimed at equipping drivers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies required to perform their duties effectively and efficiently.
The training was attended by 106 drivers, which included two drivers from each of the 43 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and all the drivers from the Regional Coordinating Council. The facilitators of the workshop were Simbiat Wiredu, Regional Head of the National Road Safety Authority, ADO II Daniel Antwi, Safety Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Sampson Adu-Larbi, Transport Officer of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, and Mrs. Vivien Akumia, Acting Director of the Human Resource Department.
The workshop covered several topics, including defensive driving, prevention and management of vehicular fires, ethics of a professional driver, discipline under the Code of Conduct and the Conditions of Service, and technology in driving. The training was delivered through adult-learning mode of facilitation and other presentation techniques such as lecturing (PowerPoint presentation), field experiments, discussions/interactions, and written assignments.
During the workshop, the drivers were trained on the principles of defensive driving, observation, anticipation, and hazard identification, and the consequences of unsafe driving practices. The Ghana National Fire Service educated them on the functions of the service, the definition for fire, types of fire, causes of fire, and how to operate the fire extinguisher. The drivers also had hands-on practical sessions where they experimented with fire extinguishers.
Other areas covered included characteristics of a bad driver without driving ethics, factors that affect the qualities of driver ethics, code of conduct of a professional driver, and vehicle logbook. The workshop was very interactive, and the drivers had the opportunity to ask questions and share experiences.
The training was significant as it equipped drivers with basic skills and knowledge in their field of work, enabled them to manage vehicle safety on the road, and helped them recognize the importance of observation and anticipation while driving. It also equipped them with knowledge in the prevention and management of fires and provided them with basic knowledge on the conduct and ethics of a driver.
At the end of the workshop, the drivers were appreciative of the training, indicating that it had been an eye-opener for them. They recommended that the Regional Co-ordinating Council provides such training once every quarter to boost their performance in delivering their duties.
In conclusion, the two-day workshop enhanced the knowledge of the participants, and it was very appropriate. The facilitators did an excellent job, and they exhibited good experience and delivery. The venue was also very appropriate for the training. It is recommended that such workshops be organized regularly to improve the skills of the drivers and ultimately promote road safety.