From GH¢60 to GH¢2,400: What Ghana’s New Road Rules Could Cost You

From November 1, 2026, Ghana’s automated traffic enforcement system, TRAFFITECH-GH, is set to move into full implementation, bringing a more technology-driven approach to the enforcement of road traffic laws.

The Ghana Police Service has confirmed that the system will use cameras, sensors and other digital devices to detect traffic offences, with detected violations reviewed before an Electronic Notice of Violation (ENV) is issued. Camera-detected notices are issued to the registered owner of the vehicle by SMS.

The development comes against the backdrop of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), which prescribe fines and, in several cases, terms of imprisonment for road traffic offences.

For purposes of the following figures, one penalty unit is GH¢12.

This means that 5 penalty units amount to GH¢60, 10 units to GH¢120, 25 units to GH¢300, 50 units to GH¢600, 100 units to GH¢1,200 and 200 units to GH¢2,400.

The Penalties Motorists and Road Users Need to Know

1. Using a Phone While Driving

Under Regulation 132, using a mobile phone while driving attracts a fine of up to 50 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢600, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.

2. Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs carries a fine of 50 to 200 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢600 to GH¢2,400.

The offence may also attract imprisonment for up to 40 months, or both the fine and imprisonment.

3. Jumping a Red Light

A driver who jumps a red light at a signalised intersection may face a fine of 10 to 30 penalty units, or GH¢120 to GH¢360, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

4. Failing to Stop or Yield

Failing to stop or yield at the relevant STOP or YIELD signs attracts a fine of 10 to 30 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120 to GH¢360, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

5. Street or Drag Racing

Driving or permitting another person to drive in a race, speed competition or endurance test on a road attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units, or GH¢120 to GH¢300, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

6. Speeding

Exceeding the prescribed speed limit attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120 to GH¢300, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

7. Railway Crossing Violations

Breaking the rules governing railway crossings may attract a fine of 5 to 25 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢60 to GH¢300, or imprisonment for up to 30 days.

8. Overtaking at a Pedestrian Crossing

Overtaking a vehicle that has stopped at a pedestrian crossing to allow a pedestrian to cross attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units, or GH¢120 to GH¢300, or imprisonment for up to 30 days.

9. Disobeying a Traffic Officer or Device

Disobeying a traffic control officer or traffic control device attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120 to GH¢300, or imprisonment for up to 30 days.

10. Unauthorised Use of Bus Stops or Taxi Stands

Using a bus stop or taxi stand without authorisation attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units, or GH¢120 to GH¢300, or imprisonment for up to 30 days.

11. Parking in a Disability Bay

Parking in a space reserved for persons with disabilities without entitlement attracts a fine of up to 25 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢300, imprisonment for up to eight months, or both.

12. Procession and Funeral Traffic Offences

Driving in a procession without complying with the applicable rules, or driving through a funeral or authorised procession, attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units, or GH¢120 to GH¢300, or imprisonment for up to 30 days.

13. Bus or Taxi Parking at the Wrong Place

Stopping or parking a bus or taxi outside a designated stop or stand attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120 to GH¢300, or imprisonment for up to 30 days.

14. Failure to Provide Required Disability Facilities on Public Transport

Failure to provide the required facilities for persons with disabilities on public transport attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units, or GH¢120 to GH¢300, or imprisonment for up to 30 days.

15. Improper or Double Parking

Several forms of improper parking, including parking contrary to traffic signs, parking in prohibited areas and double parking, attract a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120 to GH¢300, or imprisonment for up to 30 days.

16. Operating a TV Monitor While Driving

Operating a television monitor on the dashboard while the vehicle is in motion attracts a fine of up to 25 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢300, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

17. Unauthorised Okada or Aboboyaa Operations

The regulations also impose significant penalties for operating commercial motorcycles or tricycles without the required authorisation.

The operator may face a fine of 50 to 100 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢600 to GH¢1,200, imprisonment for 8 to 24 months, or both.

The rider may face a fine of 25 to 50 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢300 to GH¢600, imprisonment for up to eight months, or both.

18. Overcharging Passengers

Overcharging passengers attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120 to GH¢300, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

19. Boarding or Alighting at an Unauthorised Place

Boarding or alighting at an unauthorised place attracts a fine of up to 5 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢60, imprisonment for up to seven days, or both.

20. Jaywalking or Failing to Use a Footbridge

Pedestrians who jaywalk or fail to use a designated footbridge may face a fine of up to 5 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢60, imprisonment for up to seven days, or both.

21. Preaching or Hawking in a Moving Trotro or Bus

Preaching or hawking on a moving public or commercial vehicle attracts a fine of 10 to 50 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120 to GH¢600, imprisonment for up to eight months, or both.

22. Selling Goods on the Road or Walkway

Selling goods on or alongside a road, on a pedestrian walkway or near a railway crossing attracts a fine of up to 50 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢600, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.

23. Washing or Repairing a Vehicle on the Road

Washing or repairing a vehicle on a road attracts a fine of 25 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢300, or imprisonment for up to 30 days.

The TRAFFITECH-GH Automated Enforcement System

Beyond the individual penalties, one of the most significant changes under L.I. 2519 is the introduction of graduated penalties for offences detected through traffic enforcement devices.

Under Regulation 242, the schedule provides for:

• First offence: 10 penalty units — GH¢120
• Second offence: 10 penalty units — GH¢120
• Third offence: 10 penalty units — GH¢120
• Fourth offence: 15 penalty units — GH¢180
• Fifth offence: 20 penalty units — GH¢240

A sixth offence within 24 months may result in court proceedings and possible suspension or revocation of the driver’s licence for a minimum of 12 months, together with retraining and retesting.

The Ghana Police Service has confirmed that TRAFFITECH-GH will use fixed, mobile and in-vehicle cameras as well as laser speed-measurement devices. The system will capture alleged violations, transmit the evidence for validation and issue an Electronic Notice of Violation after review.

And Here Is the Part Vehicle Owners Need to Pay Attention To

With camera-detected offences, the person who receives the notice is not necessarily the person who was behind the wheel.

The Ghana Police Service’s TRAFFITECH-GH guidance expressly states that camera-detected Electronic Notices of Violation are issued to the registered vehicle owner. The registered owner remains liable even where another person was driving the vehicle.

That means lending your vehicle to a friend, relative, employee or colleague does not necessarily mean the resulting camera-detected traffic violation will follow the person who was actually driving.

The camera sees the vehicle. The system identifies the registration. The notice goes to the registered owner.

As the Police puts it, an owner of a vehicle may receive an ENV even where the owner does not drive the vehicle, and the registered owner remains responsible under the system.

There is, however, a distinction between camera-based enforcement and roadside enforcement. Where an MTTD officer records an offence using a handheld Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) during a roadside stop, the driver may receive the notice directly.

What Happens When the SMS Arrives?

The Police Service says an Electronic Notice of Violation will contain information including the ticket number, location, date and time of the offence, vehicle registration number, description of the offence, amount payable and payment deadline.

Motorists will also have an opportunity to review the evidence and contest a notice through the prescribed process. The Police guidance states that a contest must be initiated within 14 days of the issuance of the ENV.

The Police has also cautioned motorists to verify that an official violation SMS comes from the GPS-MTTD sender ID and to use the official government platform when reviewing evidence or making payments.

What This Means for Road Users

The Regulations create a framework in which violations can result in financial penalties, imprisonment, retraining, retesting and, in the case of repeated automated offences, possible restrictions on driving privileges.

And from 1 October 2026, the enforcement mechanism will increasingly rely on technology rather than the physical presence of a police officer at every location.

For motorists, commercial drivers, vehicle owners, pedestrians and other road users, knowing the rules is therefore becoming increasingly important.

Because when TRAFFITECH-GH sees the violation, the question may no longer be whether a police officer was standing nearby, The camera may already have the evidence.