The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has assured commercial drivers that concerns over missing speed limit signs, obstructed traffic lights and other road infrastructure challenges will be addressed as Ghana begins implementing the TraffiTech-GH automated traffic enforcement system.
The assurance follows objections from commercial driver groups, who argue that authorities must improve road infrastructure and create the necessary conditions for motorists to comply with traffic regulations before introducing automated penalties.
The Deputy Director of Planning and Programmes at the NRSA, Henry Boamah Asomani, told Sena Nombo on Radio Gold’s Gold Morning Conversation that the concerns were legitimate and had already informed discussions with local government authorities.
He disclosed that the NRSA had held a meeting with metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies about two weeks earlier to discuss the removal of obstructions affecting road safety, particularly around traffic intersections.
The concerns include traders occupying road shoulders, structures obstructing motorists’ visibility and trees blocking traffic lights.
Mr Asomani said the Authority would work with the relevant institutions to ensure that traffic signals were clearly visible before automated enforcement of red-light violations begins.
On the absence of speed limit signs along some roads, he acknowledged that the problem existed and needed attention.
“We acknowledge that some of these road signs have been broken down. Some of the roads, you don’t find the speed limit signs on them,” he stated.
He explained that some signs had been damaged by motorists, while others had been removed by individuals who reportedly used the metal for other purposes.
Although the Authority was working to improve the availability of road signs, Mr Asomani insisted that their absence did not give drivers permission to disregard speed limits.
He maintained that Ghana’s road traffic regulations already establish general speed limits according to the nature of the road and the activities taking place around it.
For instance, he explained that motorists are generally required to reduce their speed to 30 kilometres per hour around schools, markets, hospitals, residential areas and other locations with significant pedestrian activity.
He also cited general limits of 50 kilometres per hour within urban areas, 90 kilometres per hour on highways outside towns and 100 kilometres per hour on motorways, subject to applicable restrictions.
According to him, motorists are expected to familiarise themselves with these requirements as part of their responsibility to drive safely.
The NRSA official also responded to complaints that transport operators had not been adequately consulted before the introduction of TraffiTech-GH.
He argued that the consultation stage had been completed and that the Authority was now concentrating on educating motorists about the system and its enforcement procedures.
Mr Asomani said sensitisation activities were taking place at lorry parks and through radio, television and social media, with the involvement of the police, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and other relevant institutions.
He further clarified that the initial implementation of TraffiTech-GH would concentrate exclusively on speeding during November and December 2026.
Other traffic offences, including red-light violations, are expected to be incorporated into the system from January 2027.
He urged commercial drivers and transport operators to cooperate with the programme, maintaining that the initiative was intended to reduce road crashes and fatalities rather than target any particular category of motorists.
