In a major legislative move impacting urban mobility and road safety, Parliament has successfully passed the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025. This landmark legislation formally legalizes and regularizes the use of motorcycles (Okada), tricycles, and quadricycles for commercial purposes across the country, bringing a previously informal and often contentious sector under the official regulatory framework.
The Bill introduces wide-ranging amendments to the principal Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683). The Committee on Roads and Transport stated that the legislation is intended to create momentum for improved road safety, generate significant employment opportunities for the youth, and pave the way for a holistic modernization of the road transport industry.
The comprehensive nature of the amendment addresses both safety and operational standards. Critically, it amends Act 683 to set clear, specific limits for the determination of alcohol concentration in drivers, establishing a more rigorous standard for impaired driving enforcement. Furthermore, the new law mandates the development and enforcement of standards for crucial safety equipment, including seat belts and other essential gear for vehicles.
“Clause 2 amends section 10 of Act 683 to revise the prescribed limits for alcohol concentration in hundred millilitres of breath, blood and urine to 21.87 microgrammes of alcohol, 50 microgrammes of alcohol and 66.875 microgrammes of alcohol respectively. This amendment is consequential to the amendment in clause 1.”
In terms of driver eligibility and environmental impact, the Bill also addresses labor policy by reducing the existing age restriction on commercial drivers and introduces provisions for mandatory motor vehicle emission testing to tackle air quality concerns.
Finally, the amendment seeks to formalize the modern transport sector by providing a dedicated regulatory framework for both fare-paying passenger services and the burgeoning ride-hailing service industry in Ghana.
This ensures proper oversight, accountability, and consistent service standards are applied across the industry, successfully integrating new technology and business models into the national transport structure.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
