A road safety advocate has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Minister for the Interior to extend the warning period for the TraffiTech-GH automated traffic enforcement system to 90 days, arguing that the current rollout is too rushed.
The advocate said although the initiative, which commenced on November 1, 2026, was necessary to improve road safety and curb speeding, its implementation must be preceded by adequate public education and improvements in road infrastructure.
In a statement, the advocate argued that authorities should address the occupation of designated bus stops and pedestrian walkways by traders before enforcing traffic regulations against drivers.
He cited locations including Kejetia, Adum, Tech Junction, Kaneshie and Circle, where trading activities have reportedly taken over spaces designated for public transport and pedestrians.
According to him, penalising commercial drivers for failing to stop at designated bus stops that are inaccessible or occupied would amount to unfair enforcement and could worsen tensions between drivers and authorities.
He said the concerns had contributed to threats of industrial action by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other commercial drivers.
The advocate also expressed concern about what he described as inadequate public education on the initiative, particularly regarding speed limits and responsibility for traffic violations.
He noted that many drivers were still unfamiliar with the prescribed speed limits of 50km/h in towns, 90km/h on highways and 100km/h on motorways, as well as the provision that vehicle owners could be held responsible for offences even when they were not driving.
Drawing lessons from other countries, he cited the United Kingdom, Sweden, Rwanda, South Africa and Kenya as examples where public education, transparent enforcement, infrastructure improvements and stakeholder engagement have been important considerations in implementing automated traffic enforcement systems.
The advocate proposed five measures to improve the implementation of TraffiTech-GH.
These include extending the warning period for 90 days while maintaining SMS cautions instead of immediately imposing GH¢120 fines, clearing occupied bus stops and pedestrian walkways, publishing camera locations and installing adequate warning signs.
He also called for a review of speed limits on major roads, particularly the N6 highway, proposing 50km/h in town centres, 70km/h on the outskirts of towns and 90km/h on open roads.
Additionally, he urged the authorities to organise a stakeholder engagement involving the GPRTU, the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA), the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
He maintained that the concerns were not an opposition to digital traffic enforcement but a call for fairness, adequate preparation and broader stakeholder participation.
“We want TraffiTech-GH to succeed, but safety without fairness will fail,” he stated, insisting that engagement should precede full enforcement.
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