'Fix Roads First' Critics Rebuffed: Mahama Says Speed Cameras Can't Wait for Perfect Infrastructure

President John Dramani Mahama has pushed back against mounting opposition to Ghana's new automated traffic enforcement system, declaring that road safety measures cannot be delayed until the country achieves flawless road infrastructure.

Speaking from Antigua ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the President dismissed arguments that TraffiTech-GH should be shelved pending repairs to faulty traffic lights, faded road markings, and missing speed-limit signage. "I hear they say we should fix the roads before we introduce TraffiTech. It does not work like that. I mean, the roads are not perfect in the UK, yet they have speed cameras," he said.

System Goes Live Despite Threats of Industrial Action

The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service activated TraffiTech-GH on November 1, deploying camera technology at strategic locations to detect speeding violations and issue electronic fines directly to vehicle owners registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). The initial phase focuses exclusively on speeding, with other offences such as red-light violations and wrongful parking expected to be incorporated later.

The rollout has drawn sharp criticism from some commercial transport operators, who threatened industrial action over concerns that the system would penalise drivers operating on poorly maintained roads without adequate signage. Critics argued that the government should first address infrastructure deficiencies—including malfunctioning traffic lights and inadequate road markings—before imposing automated penalties.

Speeding Data Justifies Urgency

President Mahama's defence of the system is anchored in road safety data showing that excessive speed accounts for between 60 and 62 per cent of serious injuries and fatalities from road crashes in Ghana. Assistant Commissioner of Police Alexander Kwaku Obeng, Director of Education, Research and Training at the MTTD, reported that on the first day of deployment alone, some motorists were recorded travelling at speeds exceeding 130 km/h in zones with posted limits of 50 km/h.

The enforcement framework carries significant consequences. Fines range from GH¢240 to GH¢480 depending on the severity of the violation, with offenders given 14 days to pay via ghana.gov.gh or contest the notice in court. Unpaid fines accrue a daily penalty of one per cent, and the DVLA will refuse to renew licences, register vehicles, or conduct roadworthiness tests for owners with outstanding violations. Accumulating six offences within two years triggers a mandatory court-ordered licence suspension of at least 12 months.

GPRTU Demands Even Enforcement

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has adopted a nuanced stance, welcoming the digital enforcement system while demanding that authorities apply traffic regulations evenly—particularly the long-standing ban on trading at bus stops and pedestrian walkways, which the union argues forces drivers into unauthorised parking. "We are saying that now there is a law, and why are you not implementing the law? And now all your focus is on the new TrafficTechGH," said GPRTU Deputy Public Relations Officer Samuel Amoah.

President Mahama's remarks in Antigua come as he participates in CHOGM alongside fellow Commonwealth leaders, with bilateral discussions on trade and investment also on his agenda. His government has faced mounting pressure over road safety, with National Road Safety Authority data showing fatalities rose from 261 in January 2025 to 383 in January 2026—a significant spike that officials attributed largely to human factors including speeding and wrongful overtaking.