Ghana’s new Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), have introduced a range of fines, imprisonment and other sanctions for motorists and road users who breach traffic laws.
The regulations cover offences ranging from illegal racing and jumping red lights to improper parking, disobeying traffic officers and using television monitors while driving.
They also introduce automated enforcement measures, under which offences detected by traffic enforcement devices, including cameras, can attract graduated fines and, after repeated violations, possible suspension or revocation of a driver’s licence.
A 14-page offences schedule authored by D/Sgt. Nana Kwadwo Otibu-Gyan of the Legal and Prosecution Unit, RHQ/Ho, outlines several of the offences and penalties.
Key offences and penalties
1. Street racing and speed competitions
Under Section 221, 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, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.
Participating in an unauthorised race attracts the same penalty.
2. Failure to obey STOP and YIELD signs
Under Section 222, failing to stop or yield at an intersection marked with a STOP or YIELD sign, or failing to stop before a pedestrian crossing, attracts a fine of 10 to 30 penalty units, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.
Approaching a YIELD sign without slowing down also attracts the same penalty.
3. Jumping red lights
Motorists who fail to stop at a red traffic light at a signalised intersection face a fine of 10 to 30 penalty units, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.
4. Railway crossing violations
Failing to stop within the prescribed distance of a railway line at a level crossing, or proceeding before it is safe to do so, attracts a fine of 5 to 25 penalty units or imprisonment for up to 30 days.
Going through, around or under a closed railway gate carries the same penalty.
Overtaking, traffic officers and parking
5. Overtaking at pedestrian crossings
Overtaking a vehicle that has stopped at a pedestrian crossing to allow someone to cross attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units or imprisonment for up to 30 days.
Failure to slow down when approaching a marked pedestrian crossing carries the same penalty.
6. Disobeying traffic officers or devices
Disobeying a traffic control officer or traffic control device attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units or imprisonment for up to 30 days.
7. Unauthorised use of bus stops and taxi stands
Using a bus stop or taxi stand without authorisation attracts a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units or imprisonment for up to 30 days.
8. Parking in disability-reserved spaces
Parking in a space reserved for persons with disabilities without entitlement attracts a fine of up to 25 penalty units, imprisonment for up to eight months, or both.
Parking offences
Under Section 235, motorists could face penalties for several forms of improper parking, including:
– Parking contrary to traffic signs or within a prohibited distance of a junction.
– Parking in front of building entrances or exits.
– Parking contrary to instructions in designated parking areas.
– Parking in loading areas, reserved permit-holder bays, slip roads, hard shoulders or central reserves.
– Parking near junctions, bends or crossings in a way that obscures traffic signs.
– Double parking, or parking alongside another vehicle.
– Parking in an area designated for a different category of vehicle.
These offences generally attract a fine of 10 to 25 penalty units or imprisonment for up to 30 days.
Billboards and television monitors
An outdoor advertising sign that interferes with traffic or obscures a traffic sign or device attracts a fine of 25 to 50 penalty units or imprisonment for up to three months.
Meanwhile, operating a television monitor on the dashboard of a moving vehicle attracts a fine of up to 25 penalty units, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.
Automated traffic offences
The regulations also provide for automated enforcement through Traffic Enforcement Devices, including cameras.
According to the schedule, automated fines increase with repeated offences:
– First to third offence: 10 penalty units (GH¢120)
– Fourth offence: 15 penalty units (GH¢180)
– Fifth offence: 20 penalty units (GH¢240)
– Sixth offence within 24 months: Possible court-ordered licence suspension or revocation for a minimum of 12 months, alongside retraining and retesting.
Other offences covered
The regulations also impose penalties for conduct such as:
– Washing or repairing vehicles on a road: 25 penalty units or up to 30 days’ imprisonment.
– Preaching or hawking on a moving public or commercial vehicle: 10 to 50 penalty units or up to eight months’ imprisonment.
– Selling goods on or alongside roads, pedestrian walkways or near railway crossings: Up to 50 penalty units or up to three months’ imprisonment.
Where no specific punishment is prescribed, Regulation 243 provides a general penalty of 10 to 50 penalty units, imprisonment for up to eight months, or both.
Regulation 244 also allows a court to order retraining for offences involving carelessness, recklessness or wilful disregard of the regulations.
The regulations further cover areas including tyres, brakes, learner drivers, and vehicle and driver requirements.
With L.I. 2519 now in force, motorists and other road users could face not only financial penalties but, depending on the offence, imprisonment, retraining, retesting and suspension or revocation of their driving licences.
Authored by D/Sgt. Nana Kwadwo Otibu-Gyan, Legal & Prosecution Unit, RHQ/Ho.
