The truck, with registration number T-26001LA (Lagos State), has reportedly remained at the Achimota stretch for more than a month, obstructing road space and worsening traffic congestion on the busy corridor.
The organisation is questioning why the vehicle has not been removed despite its proximity to Neoplan Junction, where police officers regularly direct traffic.
In a statement issued in Accra, the Director of CUTS International’s West Africa Regional Centre, Appiah Kusi Adomako, said he photographed the truck on October 8, 2026, after observing it parked at the location for several weeks.
He said the continued presence of the vehicle, while motorists struggled through congestion, raised questions about the effectiveness of traffic enforcement and the responsiveness of state agencies.
Mr Adomako called on the relevant authorities to explain why the obstruction had been allowed to persist for so long.
Safety And Enforcement Concerns
CUTS argued that the Ghana Police Service, National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the relevant municipal assembly had responsibilities to identify and address road obstructions that endangered motorists.
It cited the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), particularly Regulation 235(1)(e), which prohibits parking on a road except in an emergency with adequate advance warning.
Regulation 235(3)(e) also prohibits parking on a hard shoulder except in an emergency.
The organisation further pointed to Regulation 127(1), which requires the owner or person in charge of a broken-down vehicle to ensure its immediate removal.
Under Regulation 127(7), the Police or NRSA may tow, or authorise the towing of, a broken-down vehicle left in a dangerous position or likely to cause an accident or injury.
Fears Over Unknown Cargo
Beyond the traffic implications, CUTS said the circumstances surrounding the truck warranted a security assessment, particularly because it had no verified information about the nature of its cargo or whether the authorities had inspected it.
It also questioned the absence of any visible security cordon around the vehicle.
Mr Adomako urged the Police to establish the truck’s ownership, verify its contents and assess any potential risks to the public.
He stressed that a loaded truck left unattended beside a busy road for weeks should attract immediate attention from the relevant security and enforcement agencies.
To underscore the potential dangers associated with poorly monitored cargo transportation, CUTS recalled the January 20, 2022, Appiatse explosion, which followed a collision involving a truck transporting mining explosives.
The disaster devastated the community and resulted in multiple deaths and injuries.
It also cited the August 2020 Beirut port explosion in Lebanon, where ammonium nitrate stored under unsafe conditions exploded, killing more than 200 people and injuring thousands.
CUTS, however, stressed that it was not alleging that the Achimota truck was carrying explosives or any other hazardous material.
Rather, it said the incidents demonstrated the importance of identifying cargo, assessing potential risks and ensuring that appropriate safety measures were in place.
Demands Immediate Intervention
The organisation called on the Ghana Police Service, National Security, NRSA and the relevant municipal assembly to inspect the vehicle immediately, identify its owner and operator, and establish the nature of its cargo.
It also wants the authorities to assess the risks, provide appropriate warnings and arrange for the safe removal of the truck using suitable equipment.
CUTS further called for an investigation into the prolonged failure to clear the vehicle and urged the authorities to sanction any officers or agencies found to have neglected their responsibilities.
It also recommended routine checks and clear reporting arrangements to prevent similar situations involving stationary trucks along major roads.
Mr Adomako insisted that while the truck’s owner must be held responsible, state institutions must also discharge their enforcement duties.
“Road users should not continue to bear the consequences of this neglect,” he said.
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