Transport Systems Expert Kofi Asante has called on the government to review Ghana’s road safety regulations and introduce mandatory training of at least three years for prospective drivers as part of efforts to reduce road crashes.
According to Mr Asante, there are loopholes in the current regulations that continue to undermine efforts to address the country’s road safety challenges.
He said the increasing number of road crashes and fatalities should serve as a wake-up call for authorities and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to improve road safety.
Mr Asante cited statistics indicating that about 14,000 road crashes were recorded in 2025, resulting in 2,949 deaths and injuries to approximately 16,700 people.
He noted that the number of deaths recorded through road crashes in 2025 was higher than the number of people who lost their lives to COVID-19 in Ghana.
Mr Asante also argued that the amount of money spent by the government on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly higher than expenditure on road safety campaigns.
He recalled the government’s attempt in 2017 to introduce a mandatory towing levy to facilitate the removal of broken-down vehicles from the shoulders of roads.
According to him, the proposal was met with public opposition and was eventually withdrawn, despite its potential to reduce accidents caused by vehicles left on major roads.
Speaking on Nnnawotwe Yi on Adom TV, Mr Asante said the government should consider legislation compelling prospective drivers to undergo formal driving training for at least three years before being issued a licence.
He argued that many drivers obtain licences without adequate formal training, leaving them with limited knowledge of vehicle handling during emergencies and a weak understanding of traffic laws.
He said these gaps, coupled with poor driving practices and increased vehicular wear, put drivers, passengers and pedestrians at continued risk and contribute to the country’s high road crash rates.
“From where I stand, I will suggest if the nation is serious and wants to fight road accidents, drivers should be made to go to school for not less than three years,” he said.
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