A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bashiru Adjiri Barnor, has called on driver union leaders to establish effective communication channels and collaborate closely with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to ensure that new road traffic regulations reach commercial drivers and transport operators at the grassroots.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s Nkosuo Nsem, Mr Barnor said he supports calls for strict enforcement of the new traffic regulations but stressed that enforcement must be accompanied by comprehensive public education.
His comments follow concerns raised by commercial drivers in Kumasi after Parliament passed the Road Traffic Amendment Bill, 2025, with drivers welcoming the legislation but calling for adequate education and consistent enforcement.
Parliament passed the Bill in December 2025 to amend the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683). The amendment introduces provisions on alcohol concentration limits for drivers, the commercial use of motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles, mandatory safety equipment, and regulations governing commercial drivers.
According to Mr Barnor, the success of the new law will depend largely on how effectively authorities and transport unions communicate its provisions to drivers.
He urged driver union leaders to improve their engagement with their members and work with the relevant road safety institutions to educate drivers at transport stations and other grassroots levels.
Mr Barnor also expressed support for strict enforcement, arguing that drivers must understand the new regulations and the consequences of violating them.
His comments come after Eric Duodu, Trustee of the Anloga Junction Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), said union executives were not adequately engaged before the passage of the Bill.
Mr Duodu said the lack of prior engagement had left some union leaders and commercial drivers uninformed about key provisions of the new law.
He has therefore called on the Ministry of Transport, the National Road Safety Authority, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, and the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) to begin immediate stakeholder engagements and a nationwide public education campaign.
Mr Duodu further criticised some union leaders over the treatment of drivers, saying concerns about how drivers are treated within the unions must also be addressed.
Mr Barnor believes stronger collaboration among government agencies, driver unions and commercial drivers will help prevent confusion and ensure that the new regulations are properly understood and effectively implemented.
By: Bernard Mensah
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