Road accidents now a national security threat-Amaliba

The Acting Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba, has raised concerns over the increasing rate of road accidents across the country, describing the situation as a national security threat.
He noted that more people have died from road accidents than illnesses in Ghana
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement session, he disclosed that the National Security Secretariat had officially written to the Authority urging immediate action to address the alarming rate of crashes.
“The state of accidents in this country is increasing. It has now become a national security issue,” he noted.
He called on transport operators, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders to take collective responsibility in reversing the trend.

“Some of you are vehicle operators. You know it’s your behavior that often leads to or contributes to these accidents,” he stated.
Mr Amaliba cited troubling statistics and media reports of frequent fatalities and injuries, lamenting that road crashes are claiming more lives than chronic illnesses.

“If foreigners come to this country, they are likely not to go back to their own countries. That’s how serious the situation is,” he warned.
Referencing multiple tragic incidents, including fatal accidents involving school buses and pregnant women, he urged stakeholders to treat the matter with urgency.
“If after reading these reports, you don’t feel depressed, you’re either not human or simply careless,” he said.
The Acting Director-General of the NRSA, also used the platform to clarify the role of the NRSA, stressing that the Authority is a regulatory body, not an implementing agency, and as such cannot be held solely responsible for infrastructural lapses such as broken streetlights or faded road markings.
“We are like the PURC. We regulate. It is the responsibility of the Ghana Highway Authority, MMDAs, and Energy Commission to fix such problems,” he clarified.
The NRSA, he said, has issued several compliance notices to relevant agencies, including the Ghana Highway Authority, urging them to take swift action on dangerous road conditions, particularly along the Accra-Kumasi stretch.
Addressing the controversial age limit for commercial motorcycle riders (Okada), Mr. Amaliba explained that the current minimum age of 25 is based on provisions in the parent law.
However, he hinted at ongoing discussions to amend the law and reduce the age requirement.
He called for collaborative solutions and hinted at a possible “Operation 135” initiative aimed at installing speed limiters in city buses.
“Let’s not wait for more lives to be lost before we act,” he urged.

NRSA cracks down on non-compliance
Director for Regulations, Inspections & Compliance, NRSA, Kwame Atuahene, announced that the Authority is shifting into full enforcement mode, marking the end of a two-year grace period extended to transport operators.
“The grace period expires on March 30, 2025. We have written letters, held meetings, visited your terminals, and assigned relationship officers to support you. But now we must take very drastic steps,” he said.
He revealed that only 28 out of 65 applications from transport service providers had been approved, with 27 pending. Compliance rates hover around 50%, despite years of stakeholder engagement.
“At this point, failure to register or comply with regulatory requirements will attract administrative penalties. Operators who fail to register will be fined up to GH₵60,000.
This is not directed at unions, but at the transport operators themselves.” he warned.
He stressed the need for fairness in the system, explaining that established transport firms like VIP, OA, and STC have complied with regulations and should not operate on an uneven playing field with unregistered competitors.
“We cannot allow someone else to refuse to register yet operate in the same space,” he said.
Kwame Atuahene encouraged all transport departments, school buses, private companies, and institutions with transport units to register with the NRSA to improve service delivery and reduce road safety risks.
“We want to know who you are and help improve your quality of service. We’ve given enough time. Now is the time to act.” he said.
He also announced that compliance notices would be issued to 22 recently audited companies, with deadlines ranging between 14 and 45 days to submit remedial action plans or face sanctions.
By CHRISTABEL OBOSHIE ANNAN, Accra