Ghana road safety crisis and new traffic regulations

In Ghana, experts and educators are advocating for the government to declare road crashes a public health emergency. Appiah Kusi Adomako, Director of the West Africa Regional Centre of CUTS International, noted that more than 2,500 people died in road crashes in Ghana last year, averaging approximately eight deaths per day. He argued that the national response lacks the urgency and resource allocation seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following a fatal accident in Ofankor that killed 11 people, stakeholders proposed specific restrictions to curb road carnage. Professor Duah Agyemang suggested an immediate ban on motorcycles and tricycles, known locally as ‘aboboyas’, from major highways. Additionally, there have been calls for the establishment of a dedicated Mobile Police Unit to monitor driver behavior.

In response to the ongoing crisis, the Road Traffic Amendment Bill and subsequent regulations have been passed to modernize the transport sector. These new laws address alcohol concentration limits, vehicle construction standards, and the commercial use of motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles.

While the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) expressed support for the laws to improve safety, they noted a lack of prior consultation and are requesting nationwide stakeholder engagements. Meanwhile, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service is urging the public to familiarize themselves with the updated framework. The police are also transitioning toward digital enforcement, including electronic ticketing and payment systems.