Accra: Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, the Minister of Transport, has announced that the implementation of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1153) and Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519) will enhance discipline, accountability, and safety within Ghana's road transport system. The Minister emphasized that the new legal framework, which includes provisions for the commercial use of motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles, is designed to modernize the country's transport regulations and better address evolving mobility needs.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Nikpe highlighted that the Government has reduced the permissible alcohol concentration for drivers and lowered the minimum driving age from 25 to 21 years. These measures aim to improve road safety while expanding opportunities for more individuals to join the transport sector. The Minister shared his insights during an interview at a national dissemination and sensitisation exercise on the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1153) and Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), held in Accra.
Mr Nikpe noted that the sensitisation programme is intended to ensure that drivers, commercial transport operators, pedestrians, and other road users understand their responsibilities under the new law. He stressed the importance of communication, stating, "We want every driver, road user, and person who is in the transport industry to understand clearly what this law means and also how it is going to be operationalised."
The Ministry has collaborated with relevant institutions, including the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Roads and Highways, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), and the Ghana Police Service, to facilitate effective implementation. A nationwide sensitisation campaign will be conducted to educate the public about the new regulations.
Regarding the commercial operation of motorcycles, commonly known as 'Okada,' Mr Nikpe revealed that the Government has engaged with rider associations and plans to involve them in the national education campaign. Representatives of motorcycle riders have been taken to Rwanda to observe how commercial motorcycle operations are regulated and disciplined.
Mr Nikpe emphasized that commercial motorcycles could play a vital role in addressing 'last mile' transportation needs in areas where conventional public transport services are limited. He acknowledged the significance of motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles in regions lacking conventional vehicle services.
The Minister underscored that the formalization of commercial motorcycle operations must be accompanied by discipline and strict adherence to road traffic regulations. He stated that operators would be required to comprehend road signs, traffic rules, designated stopping points, and other safety prerequisites.
The new regulations will also enhance accountability through changes to the vehicle registration and number plate system. Number plates will now be linked to vehicle owners, facilitating the identification of owners when vehicles are involved in traffic offences or other crimes. Technology will increasingly be used to enforce traffic regulations, with the Police employing surveillance technology and specialized vehicles to detect traffic violations.
Mr Nikpe urged motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution and respect other road users, particularly at pedestrian crossings. He advised the public to use designated crossing points and avoid crossing highways unsafely. He remarked, "If you are on a highway and you want to run across, you think you are smart, you cannot be faster than a machine."
The Government aims to establish a road transport system that is safe, orderly, and capable of supporting economic activity. The Minister appealed for public cooperation with enforcement agencies and urged the public to take the new regulations seriously. The national dissemination exercise brought together key stakeholders from the transport and road safety sectors to explain the provisions of Act 1153 and L.I. 2519 and their implications for road users.