Ghana has taken a bold and potentially significant step towards addressing the persistent menace of road accidents with the introduction of TraffiTech-GH, an automated traffic law enforcement system launched by the Ghana Police Service, through the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD).
The system, which became operational on November 1, 2026 is designed to strengthen enforcement of road traffic regulations through fixed cameras, mobile surveillance cameras and laser speed-measurement devices. It initially targets speeding violations, with plans to extend enforcement to other offences, including running red lights, illegal parking, wrongful overtaking and failure to wear seatbelts.
Under the applicable speed limits, motorists are required to observe a maximum speed of 30km/h around sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, markets, churches and mosques, 50km/h in urban areas, 90km/h on highways and 100km/h on motorways.
The Chronicle welcomes this development and believes it could not have come at a better time. Indeed, automated enforcement is long overdue, given the devastating consequences of road indiscipline and reckless driving on our highways.
Speeding remains one of the major contributors to road crashes in Ghana. The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the MTTD have consistently identified excessive speed as a significant factor in road accidents and fatalities. The human cost is enormous, leaving families devastated and placing considerable pressure on the country’s healthcare system and economy. It is against this background that we consider TraffiTech-GH a timely intervention that deserves public support.
However, while we expect motorists to obey traffic regulations, the government must equally fulfil its responsibility by providing safe and motorable roads. It would be unreasonable to demand strict compliance from drivers when some roads are riddled with potholes, faded road markings, inadequate street lighting and defective traffic signals. We, therefore, urge the government to complement TraffiTech-GH with regular road maintenance, rehabilitation and the provision of appropriate safety infrastructure. Road safety must be a shared responsibility between motorists and the state.
Meanwhile, we have taken note of concerns expressed by sections of the public, including lawyers, policy analysts and motorists, about the legality, implementation and financial arrangements underpinning the system. Some have questioned whether the initiative is primarily intended to improve road safety or generate revenue for the state.
These concerns deserve serious consideration. Public confidence will depend largely on the system’s fairness, transparency and effectiveness.
One particularly controversial aspect is the revenue-sharing arrangement with Nationwide Traffic Management and Enforcement Limited (NTMEL), the private operator providing and operating the technology. Under the reported build-operate-transfer arrangement, the government receives 60 per cent of fines collected, while the company takes the remaining 40 per cent.
More troubling is the reported contractual provision requiring the government to cover revenue shortfalls from public funds if fine collections fall below projections.
We find this arrangement questionable and urge the government to review it. A road-safety initiative should not create financial obligations that potentially transfer commercial risks to taxpayers. Neither should the financial interests of a private operator appear to compete with the fundamental objective of reducing road traffic offences.
We also believe motorists must not be penalised for lane or signal violations where road markings are faded or missing, or traffic lights are defective. Clear and conspicuous speed-limit signs must be installed along major roads and approaches to towns.
Equally important is the integrity of vehicle ownership records. Concerns have been raised about motorists receiving violations involving vehicles they sold years ago because ownership transfers were not properly updated. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), National Insurance Commission (NIC) and relevant police databases must therefore be properly integrated to ensure notices reach the appropriate vehicle owners or legally liable parties.
The Chronicle believes TraffiTech-GH is a laudable and necessary intervention. Nevertheless, its implementation must be continuously reviewed to address legitimate public concerns and strengthen public confidence.
We would not be surprised if the initiative faces legal challenges. However, such challenges should not automatically discredit the objective of improving road safety. The authorities must ensure that the system operates within the law, respects motorists’ rights and delivers demonstrable public benefits.
TraffiTech-GH is welcome. Let us embrace it, address its shortcomings and improve upon it. Saving lives on our roads must remain the ultimate priority.
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