REGISTRATION TO THE EVENT HERE bit.ly/3J6VgCX
- AGENDA OF THE WEBINAR “Safer and Cleaner Vehicles in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities in the Second UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030)”, 11 AM-1 PM (UTC) HERE
- AGENDA OF THE CEREMONY AWARD 15:00-18:15 (UTC) HERE
Leaving no one behind on the road is at the heart of the first Kofi Annan Road Safety Award, launching 16 March 2022 in Accra, Ghana, by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Secretariat of the United-Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, and the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Ghana, with the support of the Kofi Annan Foundation.
The primary objective of the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award is to motivate key stakeholders – governments, private sector, and civil society organisations – to develop and implement innovative and outstanding initiatives to save lives on Africa's roads.
When it comes to road accidents, Africa pays the heaviest price with the world's highest fatality rate of 26.6 road deaths per 100,000 population compared to the world average of 17.5 per 100,000 and 9.3 per 100,000 in Europe (WHO).
A child in Africa is twice as likely to die on the road than a child in any other part of the world. It is, therefore, crucial to redouble efforts on the African continent. The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt, proclaims that "Increasing effective actions to stop the carnage on African roads is imperative if we are to achieve the new Decade of Action for Road Safety, aiming to halve the road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. It is arguably the most affected region on the planet."
Ghana is among the countries that report a high prevalence of road traffic deaths, with 24.9 per 100,000 inhabitants (WHO 2016). Nearly 2,000 lives are lost in the country each year due to crashes - and pedestrians are particularly at risk.
Poor road safety disproportionately affects the most vulnerable; more than 93% of road traffic fatalities occur in low-and middle-income countries. "By awarding initiatives coming from African countries which will have demonstrated their contribution to achieving existing national, regional and international frameworks for road safety, the Kofi Annan Road Safety Award aims to be a catalyst for change for the continent. This change is needed as the cost to African economies are too high, reaching up to 5% of GDP, crippling potential growth," adds Executive Secretary of ECA, Ms. Vera Songwe.
The Kofi Annan Road Safety Award is named after the late Secretary-General and founder of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Kofi Annan in recognition of his contribution to the area of road safety. Mr Annan brought the issue of Road Safety and Road Traffic Victims to the United Nations agenda at the beginning of the 2000s.
"Kofi Annan's life work was all about prevention. Preventing conflicts, preventing hunger, preventing diseases from taking hold. This is why he pushed so hard for progress on road safety, an area where prevention can make such a difference. The Kofi Annan Foundation is particularly pleased to be associated with this Road Safety Award named to honour his legacy and continue his important work in this field," explains Elhadj As Sy, Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation Board.
The Kofi Annan Road Safety Award Ceremony will start at 3 PM and end at 6.15 PM (UTC) on 16 March. The ceremony will be preceded by a panel discussion at 11 AM (UTC) on "Safer and Cleaner Vehicles in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities in the Second UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030)."
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AGENDA CEREMONY AWARD
15:00-18:15 (UTC)
Official Opening
- Welcome Address by the Minister for Transport of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Kwaku Ofori Asiamah
- Message by Mrs. Nane Maria Annan
- Statement by the Country Director for Ghana, World Bank (SSATP), Pierre Laporte
- Statement by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Her Excellency Vera Songwe
- Statement by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt
- Statement by Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation, ElHadj As Sy
- Keynote Address by the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Presentation of Awards
- Overview of Road Safety in Africa and Award Criteria
- Presentation of Awards
- Acceptance Statements
Closing
- Closing Remarks
- Vote of Thanks
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AGENDA WEBINAR
11 AM-1 PM (UTC)
“Safer and Cleaner Vehicles in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities in the Second UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030)”
10:30 – 11:00 Registration
Moderator: Ing. Ms. May Obiri-Yeboah, Executive Director, National Road Safety Authority, Ghana
11:00 – 11:20 Opening
- Mr. Jean Todt, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety
- Ms. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
- H.E. Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, Minister of Transport, Government of Ghana
11:20 – 12:10 Safer vehicles in Africa
- Africa’s post-2021 strategic directions for Road Safety (7 minutes): Mr. Aconkpanle Placide Colombe Badji, Economic Affairs Officer, UN Economic Commission for Africa
- African Road Safety Action Plan (2021-2030): A focus on Safety vehicles (7 minutes): Mr. Robert Lisinge, Chief, Energy, Infrastructure and Services Section, ECA
- UN Global Action Plan for the Decade 2021-2030: A focus on Safer Vehicles (7 minutes): Mr. Nhan Tran, Head, Safety and Mobility, Social Determinants of Health, WHO
- UN Vehicle Regulations (7 minutes): Mr. Walter Nissler, Chief of Vehicles Regulations Section, Sustainable Transport Division, ECE
- Panel discussion
12:10 – 12:20 Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) (in the context of Climate Change) and Road Safety: nexus between vehicle emissions and Road Safety (UNRC/UNDP)
12:20 – 12:50 Opportunities and Options for Safer and Cleaner Vehicles in Africa (UNEP)
Panel session 1 – Why Safer and Cleaner Used Vehicles? (15 minutes)
Short Video 1
- International overview – Ms. Jane Akumu, Africa focal at the UN Environment on promoting cleaner mobility programs, UNEP
- Exporter perspective
Panel session 2 – Opportunities and Options for Africa (15 minutes)
Short Video 2
- Africa Region: Mr. Robert Lisinge, Chief, Energy, Infrastructure and Services Section, ECA
- Country Perspective: Mr. Daniel Essel, Policy Planning & Research Department, Ministry of Transport, Government of Ghana
12:50 – 13:00 General Discussion
Facilitated by Moderator
13:00 – 13:10 Closing
Mr. Robert Lisinge, Chief, Energy, Infrastructure and Services Section, ECA
13:10 – 14 Coffee break