Kumasi transport unions demand public education push before Road Traffic Act enforcement

Ghana's commercial transport sector is backing new road safety legislation passed by Parliament in December, but union leaders are sounding an alarm: enforcement without adequate public education could trigger chaos on the nation's roads.

The Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2025, which modifies the Road Traffic Act 2004, introduces tougher standards on alcohol limits, commercial motorcycle use, safety equipment and driver conduct. Drivers in Kumasi, a major transport hub, support the intent but say the rollout has left them in the dark.

Eric Duodu, Trustee of the Anloga Junction Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), revealed a stark reality: union leadership had zero consultation before Parliament passed the Bill. "We had no knowledge of the passage of the new road traffic law," he stated, adding that drivers under their supervision still lack copies of the legislation.

The enforcement gamble

Transport operators fear a scenario where law enforcement agencies begin arresting drivers for breaching rules most have never read. One driver captured the anxiety plainly: "We support the new law because it will help reduce accidents and bring order on our roads. But the government must educate the passengers and us well before they start arresting people."

The unions are calling on four institutions to coordinate a nationwide education campaign: the Ministry of Transport, the National Road Safety Authority, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE). The message is clear—compliance depends on understanding, not just penalties.

Why this matters for Ghana

Road safety remains one of Ghana's most pressing public health challenges. The nation experiences some of West Africa's highest traffic fatality rates, with reckless driving, overcrowded vehicles and poor enforcement cited as persistent culprits. The 2025 amendments represent genuine policy progress, targeting behaviours that directly endanger lives.

However, the transport sector's concerns are valid. In Ghana, information dissemination to the informal economy—where most commercial drivers operate—remains inconsistent. Without deliberate, accessible education in local languages, via radio, transport stations and union meetings, the law risks becoming a revenue-collection tool rather than a safety intervention.

The GPRTU's call for stakeholder engagement before enforcement also hints at broader governance lessons. When government bypasses consultation with affected sectors, even well-intentioned reforms can breed resistance and create implementation problems. Transport unions represent hundreds of thousands of drivers and passengers; their buy-in matters.

Next steps

The amendments include provisions on:

• Stricter alcohol concentration limits for drivers
• Regulations governing commercial use of motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles
• Mandatory safety equipment standards
• Enhanced requirements for commercial driver conduct

Stakeholders interviewed agreed that effective enforcement will require three elements: comprehensive public education, genuine consultation with transport unions before penalties kick in, and consistent application of the law across all road users—not selective enforcement that targets only commercial drivers.

The Ministry of Transport and NRSA have not yet announced a timeline for education campaigns or enforcement commencement. As Parliament's intention to improve road discipline gains momentum, the real test will be whether implementation matches the ambition.