Pride Spins and Diado Solutions have organised a road safety sensitisation programme for drivers in Takoradi, with a call for motorists to take greater responsibility for the lives entrusted to them. The initiative, held as part of a corporate social responsibility campaign, sought to educate and engage drivers on road safety and encourage them to adopt safer practices on the roads. The campaign, themed “Every Life Matters,” emphasised the need for drivers to consciously recognise the value of every passenger and road user and make safety a priority.
A representative of Pride Spins said the company decided to support the initiative because it believes in unity and community engagement, noting that its corporate social responsibility activities should extend beyond football. According to the representative, drivers play a critical role in society because they transport people to their workplaces, schools, churches and other destinations. “Drivers are the carriers of lives. They carry futures and destinies,” the representative said, stressing that educating drivers could have a wider impact as they could pass the knowledge gained on to the passengers they transport. The representative said Pride Spins’ participation was also guided by its philosophy of “Together we play, together we win,” which informed the campaign’s focus on protecting lives. The company also noted that while grassroots football remains an area of interest, road safety is another sector requiring attention and support.
Founder of Diado Solutions, David DeGraft Addo, said the campaign was inspired by a fatal road crash he witnessed in 2019 along the Obiri stretch. According to him, a taxi carrying a family of five was involved in a crash in which all five occupants lost their lives. He said the incident left a lasting impression on him because he believed the crash could have been avoided. Mr Addo explained that, based on the subsequent investigation as he understood it, the heavy-duty truck involved had perceived the taxi as a smaller vehicle that should give way, while the traffic lights at the location were also not functioning, creating difficulties for both drivers. He said the experience motivated him to commit to doing something about road crashes whenever he had the opportunity and resources to do so. Mr Addo said he had approached several organisations in previous years for support before contacting Pride Spins this year. He said Pride Spins agreed to partner with Diado Solutions after considering the initiative as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts.
A driver who participated in the programme welcomed the initiative, describing road crashes as disheartening and urging motorists to take road safety education seriously. He identified indiscipline and impatience at T-junctions as some of the challenges contributing to crashes. According to him, instead of allowing vehicles to pass through a junction one at a time, some drivers attempt to move through simultaneously, increasing the risk of collisions. He expressed appreciation to the organisers for taking the time to engage and educate drivers at the various taxi stations where they operate. Pride Spins said it hopes to return to Takoradi to undertake the initiative again and potentially expand it to a larger platform. The company also urged drivers, pedestrians and other road users to prioritise safety, particularly during the festive season. It said the central message remains that every life matters, and protecting those lives requires responsible behaviour from everyone who uses the road.