A Ghanaian soldier has come under public scrutiny after being captured physically disciplining commercial drivers at Lapaz, Accra, for allegedly parking wrongly along a busy stretch of road.
A video trending on X shows the soldier whipping the drivers near the Lapaz traffic intersection, a notorious hotspot for vehicular congestion.
The soldier was seen using a cane to lash drivers who had parked haphazardly, obstructing the free flow of traffic.
Several onlookers recorded the incident, with videos quickly circulating across social media platforms.
The incident has sparked mixed reactions among Ghanaians. While some have praised the soldier for taking decisive action to curb the persistent problem of wrongful parking and lawlessness by some commercial drivers, others have condemned his approach as excessive and unlawful.
In Ghana, wrongful parking, or parking in unauthorised areas, is an offense punishable by fines, clamping, or towing. The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and other local authorities are actively enforcing these regulations to reduce traffic congestion and enhance road safety.
Vehicles parked illegally can be clamped, and owners must pay a spot fine to have the clamp removed. Repeated offenses or parking in highly restricted areas may result in towing and impoundment.
A uniformed soldier was captured patrolling the streets of Lapaz with a cane, whipping drivers who had either wrongly stopped or parked their vehicles. pic.twitter.com/S32FZKCatY
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) July 18, 2025
What the law says
A person who parks a motor vehicle wholly or partly on the verge or shoulder or a road, on any land situated between two carriageways and which is not a footway, on a pedestrian crossing, or on a place reserved for the physically challenged, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 250 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months.
Road traffic fatalities seem to be rising as motorists continue to park unlawfully and engage in other road irregularities.
Lapaz, one of Accra’s busiest commercial hubs, has long struggled with traffic congestion worsened by commercial drivers picking up and dropping off passengers at unauthorised spots.
Calls for stricter law enforcement by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service have intensified following this incident.
