GPRTU Drivers Schooled On New Traffic Laws
Commercial drivers belonging to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in the Ashanti Region have been schooled on the new road traffic regulations, Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2519, 2026, ahead of the enforcement of stricter measures aimed at improving road safety.
The sensitisation workshop, held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, brought together officials of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), the Ghana Police Service’s Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), and a representative of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to educate GPRTU members on the new regulations and their implications for commercial transport operations.
The exercise was aimed at equipping the drivers with the necessary knowledge to comply with the new requirements, avoid sanctions and help reduce road crashes.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GPRTU, Alhaji Sumaila Boakye, urged members of the union to familiarise themselves with the regulations and strictly observe the laws governing road transport.
He warned that ignorance of the law would not necessarily protect offenders from prosecution, urging drivers to take the sensitisation exercise seriously to avoid trouble with law enforcement agencies.
He particularly appealed to drivers operating long-distance routes, including Yeji, Atebubu, Cape Coast, Assin Fosu, Takoradi, Sunyani and destinations in the northern parts of the country, to exercise caution and comply with road safety requirements.
According to him, the time had come for commercial drivers to demonstrate greater discipline on the roads to prevent avoidable crashes and the accompanying legal consequences, which could include imprisonment depending on the offence committed.
Alhaji Boakye commended GPRTU members for turning up in their numbers despite the short notice given for the workshop.
Roadworthiness, Licences
The Planning Manager of the NRSA, Samuel Adu Gyimah, also impressed on the drivers the need to comply with the new requirements concerning vehicle roadworthiness and driving licences.
He urged them to present their vehicles for the necessary roadworthiness inspections to ensure that they were mechanically sound and safe for use.
He cautioned drivers against waiting until their roadworthiness certificates expired before renewing them, explaining that the new arrangements allowed renewals to be undertaken a month before expiration.
Mr Adu Gyimah said early renewal would help drivers avoid unnecessary difficulties with law enforcement agencies while ensuring that their vehicles remained compliant with the regulations.
On driving licences, he disclosed that new categories distinguishing between private and commercial drivers were expected to take effect in 2027.
The categories would include private and commercial Licence B and Licence C holders, among others, to ensure that drivers possessed the appropriate licences for the vehicles they operated.
He said the measure was intended to strengthen the licensing system and help eliminate unauthorised and unlicensed drivers from the roads.
He therefore urged GPRTU branch chairmen to compile lists of their members and assist them in acquiring the appropriate licences.
He added that introduction letters from the branch chairmen would help the relevant authorities verify the drivers’ membership of the union.
Police Warn Drivers
The Suame Divisional Police Commander of the MTTD, Superintendent Bernice Twumasi Ankrah, educated the drivers on TRAFFITECH-GH, the Ghana Police Service’s automated traffic enforcement system scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2026.
She explained that the system would use technology to detect traffic violations and strengthen enforcement, particularly against motorists who flouted speed limits and other road safety requirements.
The system is designed to support the detection of offences such as speeding and running red lights, with electronic notices and other enforcement measures serving as part of efforts to improve compliance.
Superintendent Twumasi Ankrah cautioned the drivers that violations could result in penalties, prosecution or other sanctions, depending on the offence.
She urged them to observe speed limits, obey traffic signals and ensure that their vehicles complied with the law.
She also educated them on the use of police vehicles equipped with speed-measuring devices to identify motorists who exceeded prescribed speed limits.
DVLA Representative Present
A representative of the DVLA was also present at the workshop to educate the GPRTU members on issues relating to driver licensing and vehicle administration under the new traffic regulations.
The participation of the DVLA representative formed part of the broader effort by the relevant road safety and transport authorities to ensure that commercial drivers understood their responsibilities under the revised regulatory framework.
Reduce Road Crashes
Speaking after the programme, the Ashanti Regional Director of the NRSA, Akwasi Agyenim Boateng, said the exercise was organised specifically for GPRTU members to provide them with first-hand information about the new regulations.
He said the authority wanted the drivers to understand the requirements of L.I. 2519 and take the necessary precautions to avoid violations.
According to him, the introduction of automated traffic enforcement would help reduce dependence on physical police presence on the roads while improving the monitoring of traffic offences.
He said the sensitisation covered violations relating to speeding, tyre safety, driving licences, vehicle registration and the condition of vehicles.
Mr Agyenim Boateng expressed satisfaction with the participation of the drivers, particularly the questions they asked during the programme, saying their engagement suggested that they had gained a better understanding of the issues discussed.
He appealed to the general public, especially commercial drivers and vehicle owners, to study the new traffic regulations and comply with the requirements to help reduce road crashes in the Ashanti Region and the country as a whole.
