Ghana’s Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza, has announced a sweeping set of reforms aimed at tightening the country’s axle load enforcement regime, warning that tougher penalties are imminent for individuals and companies who continue to damage public roads through overloading.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, the Minister revealed that fines for overloading trucks on the country’s roads will be increased tenfold—from GHS 5,000 to GHS 50,000—effective with upcoming amendments to the ministry’s fees and charges framework.
Addressing the media and stakeholders at the session, Hon. Agbodza stressed that Ghana’s road infrastructure continues to suffer massive and unnecessary deterioration because of persistent axle load violations.
“One of the biggest challenges we have is the axle load regime. And you will notice that whenever the government changes, there’s this tendency for people to be interested in managing axle load stations.”
Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza
Hon. Agbodza explained that any money collected through axle overload penalties should not be mistaken for a revenue-generating measure, but rather a corrective tool aimed at punishing and deterring infractions.
“Whatever money we collect in terms of penalties—let me repeat—is not a fee; it is a penalty for wrongdoing. Our aim is to make sure that axle loading accruals become zero. If the accruals become zero, what it means is that people have stopped overloading.”
Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza
He lamented that the long-term damage caused to road surfaces by overloaded vehicles far outweighs the penalties currently being imposed on offenders.
“No amount of money we collect in terms of penalties on axle loading can ever be enough to repair the damages caused by trucks on our roads. Take, for instance, the stretch from Agona Junction to Tarkwa. That road was done less than a year ago, and part of the reason it is almost gone is axle loading, and that is just one example.”
Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza
Stiffer Penalty Regime
In response to the growing concern over deteriorating road conditions, the Ministry has proposed a stiffer penalty regime. “We are intending to hike the penalty for overloading on our road from GHS 5,000 to GHS 50,000,” Hon. Agbodza disclosed.
“It’s just like saying that if you steal, you will be jailed for life. Some may say that’s high-handedness. But what about simply not stealing? Then you have no reason to spend even a day in prison.”
Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza
The Minister explained that this approach is not meant to be punitive for its own sake, but to serve as a meaningful deterrent that will lead to more responsible behaviour by drivers, haulage companies, and freight owners.
“We hope that it will be an additional deterrent for people to make sure they work within the rules,” he said. However, the Ministry’s crackdown on axle overload violations will not stop at drivers alone.
According to Hon. Agbodza, evidence suggests that many drivers initially comply with loading regulations at points such as the Tema Port, but later top up their loads unlawfully outside the port area.
This deceptive practice has prompted the Ministry to propose new regulations that will make goods owners equally liable for overloading offenses.
“Currently, the penalty is solely on the driver. We intend that the penalty be extended to the owner of the goods. So a portion of the goods will be seized, auctioned, and the money put in the Road Maintenance Trust Fund. I am sure if you lose half of the goods as a result of overloading, next time, we will all work within the limit.”
Hon. Kwame Governs Agbodza
These measures form part of a broader effort by the Mahama administration to ensure discipline and sustainability in road usage, while also safeguarding public infrastructure and taxpayer investments.
“We wish that nobody overloads, nobody gets to pay anything, and nobody loses his or her goods,” Hon. Agbodza concluded. The announcement comes at a critical time when road degradation and maintenance costs are ballooning across the country.
With more than GHS 120 billion in commitments hanging over the Roads Ministry and only a fraction of the funds available for routine maintenance, the government is under increasing pressure to ensure that every cedi spent on roads delivers long-term value.
By shifting the focus from reactive repairs to preventive enforcement, the Ministry hopes to minimise damage and preserve the integrity of newly constructed and rehabilitated roads.
The proposed penalties and broadened accountability mechanisms are expected to go through the appropriate legal processes, including parliamentary review and public consultations, in the coming months.
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