The National Road Safety Authority has linked the recent rise in road traffic deaths partly to the suspension of sustained public education campaigns, following the release of national road accident statistics showing an increase in fatalities.
Reacting to the figures, which show that nearly 3,000 people lost their lives on Ghana’s roads in 2025, the Director General of the Authority, Mr Abraham Amaliba, said funding challenges had prevented the NRSA from carrying out its regular Stay Alive campaigns.
He said those campaigns had in the past contributed to reductions in road crashes.
Speaking in a radio interview with Citi FM on Monday, [January 26, 2025], Mr Amaliba said the Authority had received assurances that delayed releases from the Road Fund would be made next week, after the transition to the newly legislated Road Maintenance Fund.
“These numbers are going up, particularly in a year when we were not able to do a serialised campaign. Anytime we do the campaigns, the numbers drop,” he said.
Mr Amaliba explained that the funding delays were due to the restructuring of the Road Fund, which required parliamentary approval and the setting up of a governing board before disbursements could resume.
“This has now ended. We have a law, we have a board, and we have been told that the money will be released to us next week,” he said.
He said the release of funds would allow the Authority to resume public education at lorry stations, churches and through television and radio, alongside renewed engagement with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department, which handles enforcement.
Beyond funding challenges, Mr Amaliba said indiscipline among road users continued to drive the rising death toll shown in the latest data.
He cited speeding, disregard for traffic regulations and unsafe pedestrian behaviour, including crossing roads carelessly and using mobile phones while walking, as major risk factors.
On commercial motorcycle operations, commonly known as okada, the NRSA Director General said their current illegal status limited the Authority’s ability to offer organised road safety education to riders.
“Because they are illegal, we are unable to provide them with road safety education and sensitisation,” he said.
Mr Amaliba said although Parliament had passed amendments to the Road Traffic Act to regulate commercial motorcycle use, the bill had not yet received presidential assent and therefore was not in force.
“It has not been assented to by the President. It is not yet a law,” he said.
He said once the law takes effect, the Authority plans to work directly with organised motorcycle groups by assigning road safety officers to them as part of efforts to reduce crashes involving motorbikes.
“We will assign road safety officers to each of the groups, and this will stem the tide as the year unfolds,” he said.
Mr Amaliba said reckless driving, especially speeding, remained the leading cause of crashes, even though poor road conditions also contributed in some cases.
He restated statutory speed limits of 50 kilometres per hour in built-up areas, 30 kilometres per hour around schools, hospitals and markets, 90 kilometres per hour on highways and 100 kilometres per hour on motorways.
“If we all abide by these speed limits, even with poor roads, we can reduce the numbers,” he said, adding that road safety depended on drivers, riders and pedestrians alike.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh
