Road Safety Civil Society Network Condemns Attempt to Withdraw Amended Road Traffic Regulation for Second Time
The Civil Society Network on Road Safety has sharply criticized a move by certain Members of Parliament to block the passage of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Regulation 2024 (LI 2478), which was reintroduced to Parliament on September 3, 2024.
The network condemned the effort to secure a two-thirds majority to revoke the legislation, citing demands for the inclusion of official vehicles for the Chief Justice and the Speaker of Parliament among those permitted to use sirens.
Describing the push for a second withdrawal as deeply disappointing, the network warned that such action would undermine a legislative instrument that has undergone eight years of stakeholder consultations and administrative review.
The regulation, aimed at addressing mounting road safety challenges, had spent 17 days in Parliament before its initial withdrawal. Any further delay, it stressed, would hamper the implementation of essential safety measures designed to tackle Ghana’s rising road traffic fatalities.
Among the provisions in the LI are new regulations to improve the removal of disabled vehicles, the introduction of automated traffic enforcement via camera technology, and rules to govern emerging trends such as electric vehicles, ride-hailing services, and bus safety standards.
The network also emphasized that Ghana’s Police Service already provides motorcade services to key public officials, including the Chief Justice and the Speaker of Parliament, ensuring their security without the need for additional siren privileges. These officials, it noted, are routinely escorted by police motorcycles as part of established protocol.
Appiah Kusi Adomako, the convener of the Civil Society Network, urged Ghanaians, particularly road safety advocates, to oppose any attempt to delay the passage of the legislation asserting the regulation needs to complete its 21-day maturity period to become law, and that further setbacks could push its implementation into next year, prolonging the country’s road safety crisis.
In a statement, the group reaffirmed its support for the legislation and called on Parliament to prioritize public safety over political maneuvering. “The stakes are high and Ghana cannot afford to delay these vital reforms aimed at reducing preventable road fatalities,” Mr Adomako said.
