West African Regional Director of CUTS International, Lawyer Appiah Kusi Adomako, has called on the government to sustain the implementation of the TRAFFITECH-GH speed enforcement system, insisting that concerns raised by driver unions, although legitimate, should not become grounds for suspending its rollout.
He believes Ghana must strike a balance between addressing the operational challenges confronting motorists and enforcing existing road traffic regulations. He warns that allowing every concern to be fully resolved before implementation could indefinitely delay an intervention intended to improve road safety.
His comments come amid growing tensions between driver unions and the authorities over the November 1, 2026, commencement of TRAFFITECH-GH, with some transport operators threatening a sit-down strike if their demands are not addressed.
Among the concerns raised by the drivers is what they describe as selective enforcement of road traffic regulations, arguing that authorities appear keen on enforcing speed limits and penalising motorists while neglecting other provisions that directly affect their daily operations.
The unions are also demanding that authorities clear hawkers from bus stops and lorry terminals, arguing that the activities of traders at these locations sometimes obstruct designated parking spaces and force drivers to park illegally, exposing them to possible sanctions.
However, Lawyer Adomako believes these concerns, while deserving serious attention, should not undermine the enforcement of traffic laws already in force. In his view, the existence of implementation challenges does not provide sufficient justification for halting a lawful road safety intervention.
“While the drivers’ concerns deserve attention, they should not halt the lawful implementation of TRAFFITECH-GH under Ghana’s road traffic laws. The law is the law,” he told The High Street Journal.
He cautioned against creating a situation where the commencement of public policy interventions becomes dependent on resolving every outstanding concern, arguing that such an approach could leave important reforms perpetually on hold.
“If every concern must be fully resolved before implementation begins, we might not start even in 2030,” he observed.
For him, compliance with speed limits should not be presented as an unfair burden on commercial drivers or private motorists, particularly when the underlying objective is to reduce road crashes and protect lives.
“Compliance with speed limits should not be seen as an unreasonable restriction on drivers,” he stressed.
He believes that enforcing existing traffic regulations and addressing the practical challenges motorists face are not mutually exclusive responsibilities. Government agencies must ensure that bus stops and lorry terminals are properly managed, hawkers do not obstruct designated spaces, and traffic rules are applied consistently across the road transport system.
At the same time, motorists cannot reasonably expect enforcement of one regulation to be suspended simply because other aspects of road traffic management remain unresolved.
“Let us allow implementation to proceed while we work to address the challenges,” he appealed.
Ultimately, the credibility of TRAFFITECH-GH will depend not only on how effectively motorists are held accountable but also on whether authorities demonstrate fairness, consistency and an equal commitment to enforcing the broader road traffic regulations.
