The Director of Regulations, Inspections and Compliance of the National Road Safety Authority, Kwame Koduah Atuahene has explained that the ongoing road traffic legislative reforms seek to address rising crashes and emerging forms of transportation in Ghana. Mr Atuahene noted that the changes also aim to strengthen coordination among institutions responsible for licensing, regulation, enforcement and transport policy.
The reforms, according to him, have become necessary because road crashes continue to affect families, economic activity and the country’s reputation. He observed that discussions about road safety often intensify after crashes occur, making preventive legislation an important part of the national response.
Speaking on the new measures, the Director of NSRA indicated that the parent legislation underwent amendments in December 2025 to address several gaps within the existing regulatory framework. The changes cover areas including child restraint devices, alcohol limits and the definition of commercial vehicles.
A key objective is focused on using legislation to respond more effectively to the increasing number of crashes recorded on Ghanaian roads. Another objective centres on emerging modes of transport that require clearer rules to guide their use.
The changes also bring motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles into consideration within the evolving transport environment. According to him, the growing use of such vehicles requires authorities to examine whether existing regulations adequately respond to new patterns of mobility.
Mr Atuahene pointed to the need for stronger institutional coordination once the reforms take effect. The licensing authority, regulatory bodies and the Police Service, working with the Ministry of Transport, will have important roles in ensuring that the revised framework operates effectively.
Such coordination, he indicated, would help prevent gaps between the creation of rules and their enforcement on the ground. Therefore, the success of the reforms will depend on how effectively the institutions involved translate the legal provisions into practical measures.
The Director of NSRA also linked the reforms to the wider responsibility of protecting lives on Ghanaian roads. From his view, legislation must respond to changing transport practices while giving enforcement institutions clearer direction.
New Licensing Standards Set Higher Bar For Road Safety
A major aspect of the reforms is on driver licensing and the level of training required for people who operate vehicles commercially. Mr Atuahene explained that the revised framework creates an opportunity for the licensing authority to distinguish between different categories of road users and provide training suited to their responsibilities.
The licensing system, he noted, has traditionally allowed a driver with an existing licence to operate within a relatively broad category of vehicles. The new approach places greater emphasis on specialised training when a person moves from private driving into commercial or public service operations.
This distinction, according to the Director of NSRA, recognises the additional responsibility carried by commercial drivers. Transporting passengers creates obligations that require skills extending beyond the basic ability to control a vehicle.
Training under the new regime therefore seeks to develop the attitude and professional conduct expected from commercial drivers. Customer service, responsibility for passengers and awareness of the consequences of driving decisions would form part of the standards expected from those seeking commercial licences.
“The mindset you need, the fact that you are transporting life, the contractual obligation that comes with it, the training that these drivers will require.”
Kwame Koduah Atuahene
Evidence gathered through accident investigations and road safety studies has also informed the push for stronger professional training. Mr Atuahene explained that findings from the sector point to the need for intensive preparation before drivers enter public service operations.
The reforms also create room for the licensing authority to develop classifications that respond to different vehicle types. This includes consideration for four wheelers and two wheelers as transport patterns continue to evolve.
Directing emphasis on the quality of vehicle safety equipment, particularly tyres used on Ghanaian roads, Mr Atuahene explained that discussions with industry players contributed to the review of the period governing tyre use, with the expiry period moved from four years to six years based on evidence considered during the review.
Beyond the expiry period, the regulatory framework provides another layer of control over safety equipment entering the country. Under the NRSA regulation, C.I. 124 of 2022, importers of safety equipment including tyres are required to register with the relevant authorities.
The registration system, he explained, would help regulators establish greater control over importers and the products entering the Ghanaian market. Collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority would also support efforts to ensure imported tyres meet the quality benchmarks prescribed by law.
Such measures would apply to both new and other categories of tyres entering the market, provided they meet the required standards. The arrangement gives regulators an avenue to monitor safety equipment before it becomes part of the road transport system.
Mr Atuahene further identified collaboration among the NRSA, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and the Ghana Standards Authority as essential to implementation. Each institution has a distinct responsibility, making coordination necessary to prevent regulatory gaps.
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