The Minister for Transport, Hon. Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has launched a nationwide sensitisation exercise on the Road Traffic Amendment Act, 2025 and the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026, urging Ghanaians to understand and comply with the new road traffic laws to help reduce road crashes and save lives.
The exercise is aimed at educating the public on the provisions of the Road Traffic Amendment Act, 2025, Act 1153, and the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026, L.I. 2519, and their implications for road users and the transport industry.
Speaking at the launch, Hon. Nikpe stressed the critical role of an efficient transport system in Ghana’s economic development.
“Every economy will thrive if the transport system is working because it is the only way that we can service our economy,” he said.
He explained that the Ministry of Transport had the responsibility of developing and maintaining a regulatory framework that was consistent with international best practices while addressing Ghana’s specific transportation needs.
“We at the Ministry of Transport are tasked with the responsibility to ensure that we have a regulatory framework that will be in line with other international practices and that will make us function in our country and also function equally outside our country,” the Minister stated.
Public education on new laws
Hon. Nikpe said the nationwide sensitisation exercise was necessary to ensure that citizens understood the laws governing their day-to-day activities on the roads.
“That is why it is important that the national sensitisation on the Road Traffic Amendment Bill and the L.I. be taken seriously so that people will be able to understand what laws they have to obey in discharging their day-to-day activities,” he said.
He described the exercise as a crucial national dissemination programme designed to educate the public on the two pieces of legislation.
“It is therefore an honour for me to welcome you all to this crucial national dissemination exercise which marks the beginning of a nationwide dissemination exercise for two very important pieces of legislation,” he said.
The Minister noted that while some Ghanaians might have encountered information about the new laws through the media, many others remained uncertain about what the legislation meant for them, their families and their businesses.
He expressed the hope that participants at the launch would leave with a clearer understanding of the provisions of the new laws and their relevance to the transport sector.
2,949 people died in road crashes in 2025
Hon. Nikpe expressed concern about Ghana’s road safety situation, noting that road crashes continued to result in unacceptable loss of lives, injuries and economic hardship for families.
“Road traffic crises have caused unacceptable loss of lives, injuries and immense economic distress for countless families,” he said.
According to the Minister, 2,949 people died in road crashes in 2025 alone, translating into approximately eight deaths every day.
He further disclosed that the deaths were recorded from 14,743 reported crashes, which resulted in more than 16,000 injuries and involved close to 25,000 vehicles.
“Read it differently. That is about eight people every single day,” Hon. Nikpe said, emphasizing the human cost of road crashes.
He added that when the figures were considered from 1991, more than 36,000 Ghanaians had lost their lives through road crashes.
The Minister said the scale of the fatalities underscored the urgent need for strict adherence to road traffic laws.
“These reasons give us the hope and confidence that these pieces of legislation we have made, we will take it seriously in order to save lives and also to continue to execute our daily activities with respect of the usage of our roads,” he stated.
Media urged to lead public education
Hon. Nikpe called on the media to play a central role in educating the public about the new legislation.
He described the media as an important channel through which government could reach citizens across the country.
“The media has always been the voice, the voice which we use, the voice with which we spread all our messages,” he said.
He urged journalists and media organisations to amplify the sensitisation campaign so that Ghanaians could understand the new regulations regardless of where they lived or worked.
“Through you, we’ll be able to get to everybody, whether at work, at home or at leisure places, for them to understand clearly what these legislations mean,” he added.
Commercial use of motorcycles and tricycles
The Minister also addressed concerns surrounding provisions allowing the use of motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles for commercial activities.
He acknowledged that sections of the Ghanaian public had questioned the rationale behind the decision and urged transport operators and drivers to demonstrate that the policy could be implemented responsibly.
“We have had a lot of questions, we have had a lot of issues with some section of the Ghanaian people asking why we should pass a legislation to allow the use of motorcycle, tricycles and quadricycles for commercial activities,” he said.
He challenged commercial transport operators to comply strictly with the law and road safety requirements.
“Is there no time for us to prove them wrong? Proving them wrong is not to make a case for ourselves, it’s simply to live and do our work and earn a living,” the Minister stated.
He warned that commercial transport operators could not disregard road traffic regulations without putting themselves and other road users at risk.
“You cannot break road traffic regulations and think that you are scuffling on the roads. It’s a risk you are taking and that risk can lead to loss of lives and injuries,” he cautioned.
‘We need you alive’
Hon. Nikpe appealed to drivers and other road users to take road safety seriously, emphasizing the importance of their contribution to Ghana’s workforce and economy.
“We need you as a people, we need you just like your families need you,” he said.
He stressed that every driver and transport operator had a responsibility to protect their own lives and those of other road users by complying with the law.
The Minister said the new regulations were part of government’s broader efforts to build a safer and more efficient transport system.
“This is the future and this is the country and the regulations His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama is bringing to us to enable us build the Ghana we want together whilst we stay alive in all our daily activities,” he stated.
Nationwide dissemination launched
Hon. Nikpe said government had not introduced the new legislation merely for the sake of adding more laws to the country’s statute books.
He explained that the ultimate objective was to establish a clear regulatory framework that would improve road safety, guide road users and support the efficient functioning of Ghana’s transport sector.
He subsequently declared the nationwide sensitisation exercise officially launched.
“On this note, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is my singular honour and privilege to officially declare the national dissemination exercise for the Road Traffic Amendment Act 2025, Act 1153 and the Road Traffic Regulations 2026, L.I. 2519 duly launched,” he declared.
The nationwide exercise is expected to provide road users, transport operators, drivers and the general public with greater understanding of the new legal requirements and promote compliance as government intensifies efforts to reduce road crashes and fatalities across Ghana.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
