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ROAD SAFETY INSTITUTIONS AND CHALLENGES IN GHANA
Introduction
Road safety is very important in Ghana. Many people travel on our roads every day—drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians. To keep everyone safe, Ghana has special organisations that work to prevent accidents and help people when accidents happen. In this lesson, we will learn about these organisations, the problems they face, and how we can help them do their work better.
PART 1: ORGANISATIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR ROAD SAFETY
- National Road Safety Authority (NRSA)
What does the NRSA do?
The NRSA is the main organisation in charge of road safety in Ghana. Think of it as the leader of road safety in our country.
Their responsibilities include: – Creating rules and policies to keep roads safe – Running campaigns to teach people about road safety (like “Don’t drink and drive” or “Wear your seatbelt”) – Teaching drivers and the public about safe driving habits – Collecting information about road accidents to understand what causes them – Working with other organisations to improve road safety
Why is this important? The NRSA helps make sure that everyone on the road knows how to stay safe and what to do in an emergency.
- Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU)
What does the MTTU do?
The MTTU is like the police of the road. They make sure that everyone follows the traffic rules.
Their responsibilities include: – Stopping drivers who break traffic rules (like speeding or not wearing a seatbelt) – Managing traffic at busy intersections and during accidents – Investigating accidents to find out what went wrong – Checking that vehicles have the proper documents and are safe to drive – Helping people when there is an accident on the road
Why is this important? Without the MTTU, people might not follow traffic rules, and there would be more accidents.
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)
What does the DVLA do?
The DVLA makes sure that drivers are properly trained and that vehicles are safe to use on the road.
Their responsibilities include: – Testing people to make sure they can drive safely before giving them a driver’s licence – Checking that vehicles are in good condition and safe to drive – Renewing driver’s licences and vehicle registration – Keeping records of all drivers and vehicles in Ghana – Making sure that vehicles meet safety standards
Why is this important? If drivers are not properly trained and vehicles are not safe, accidents are more likely to happen.
- Ghana Highways Authority
What does the Ghana Highways Authority do?
This organisation takes care of the main highways in Ghana—the big roads that connect cities and towns.
Their responsibilities include: – Building and maintaining highways to make sure they are in good condition – Adding road markings and signs to guide drivers – Fixing potholes and damaged sections of the road – Making sure there is good lighting on highways, especially at night – Planning new roads to make travel safer and easier
Why is this important? Well-maintained roads with clear markings and good lighting help prevent accidents.
- Department of Feeder Roads
What does the Department of Feeder Roads do?
Feeder roads are smaller roads that connect villages and towns to the main highways. This department takes care of these roads.
Their responsibilities include: – Building and maintaining feeder roads – Making sure these roads are safe for people to travel on – Helping people in rural areas to reach main roads easily
Why is this important? Good feeder roads help people travel safely from villages to towns and cities.
- Department of Urban Roads
What does the Department of Urban Roads do?
This organisation takes care of roads in cities and towns.
Their responsibilities include: – Planning and building roads in urban areas – Maintaining city roads to keep them in good condition – Adding traffic lights and pedestrian crossings – Making sure roads are safe for all users—drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians
Why is this important? Cities have many people and vehicles. Good road planning and maintenance help prevent accidents in busy areas.
PART 2: CHALLENGES THESE ORGANISATIONS FACE
Even though these organisations work hard to keep us safe, they face many challenges. Let’s learn about them:
Challenge 1: Coordination Problems
What is this?
Sometimes, the different organisations do not work well together. They may not share information quickly, or they may not know what the other organisations are doing.
Example: When there is an accident, the MTTU needs to manage traffic, the ambulance service needs to help injured people, and the NRSA needs to investigate what happened. If these organisations do not communicate well, it takes longer to help people.
Why does this happen? – Different organisations have different leaders and systems – There is no clear plan for how they should work together – Communication systems are not always fast or reliable
Challenge 2: Money and Resources
What is this?
Road safety work costs a lot of money. The organisations need money to buy equipment, train staff, build roads, and run campaigns. Sometimes, there is not enough money.
Example: The Ghana Highways Authority wants to add better lighting to all highways, but this is very expensive. They may not have enough money to do this everywhere.
Why does this happen? – The government has many things to spend money on (schools, hospitals, etc.) – Sometimes, money that is given for road safety is not used properly (corruption) – Road safety is not always seen as a priority
Challenge 3: Staff Training and Knowledge
What is this?
The people who work in these organisations need to be well-trained and knowledgeable. Sometimes, staff members do not have enough training or experience.
Example: A traffic officer may not know the latest road safety rules, or an ambulance driver may not know the fastest route to the hospital.
Why does this happen? – There is not enough money for training programmes – Staff members may not have formal education – New rules and procedures are not always communicated clearly
Challenge 4: Driver and Public Behaviour
What is this?
Even when organisations do their job well, some drivers and road users do not follow the rules. People may speed, not wear seatbelts, use their phones while driving, or drink and drive.
Example: A driver knows that speeding is dangerous, but they speed anyway to arrive quickly. A motorcycle rider does not wear a helmet even though it is the law.
Why does this happen? – Some people do not understand the dangers – Some people think the rules do not apply to them – There is not enough punishment for breaking rules – People are in a hurry and take risks
Challenge 5: Road Infrastructure Problems
What is this?
Some roads are not in good condition. They may have potholes, poor markings, or no lighting. This makes accidents more likely.
Example: A section of the Accra-Kumasi Highway has poor lighting at night. Drivers cannot see clearly, and pedestrians are hard to see. This increases the risk of accidents.
Why does this happen? – It costs a lot of money to build and maintain roads – Some roads are old and need repair – There is not enough money to maintain all roads properly
Challenge 6: Data Collection and Research
What is this?
To improve road safety, organisations need good information about accidents—where they happen, why they happen, and who is affected. Sometimes, this information is not collected properly or is not up to date.
Example: If the NRSA does not have accurate information about accidents, they cannot plan the right safety campaigns or identify dangerous areas.
Why does this happen? – Recording systems are old or not reliable – Staff members may not be trained to collect data properly – There is not enough technology to gather and analyse information
PART 3: SOLUTIONS TO THESE CHALLENGES
Now that we understand the challenges, let’s learn about solutions:
Solution 1: Better Teamwork and Communication
What can be done?
The different organisations can work together more closely. They can share information quickly and plan together.
How? – Create regular meetings between organisations – Use technology to share information (like a shared database) – Create clear plans for how organisations should work together during emergencies – Train staff to understand each other’s roles
Solution 2: Invest More Money
What can be done?
The government can give more money to road safety organisations. This money can be used to improve roads, train staff, and buy equipment.
How? – Increase the budget for road safety – Reduce corruption so money is used properly – Get help from international organisations – Use money from vehicle registration and fines to support road safety
Solution 3: Train and Support Staff
What can be done?
Organisations can invest in training their staff members so they have the knowledge and skills they need.
How? – Provide regular training courses – Hire qualified and experienced people – Create systems to share knowledge between staff members – Use modern technology to help staff do their jobs better
Solution 4: Educate the Public
What can be done?
Organisations can teach people about road safety through campaigns and education programmes.
How? – Run campaigns on radio, television, and social media – Visit schools to teach young people about road safety – Create posters and leaflets with safety messages – Use real stories of accidents to show why safety is important – Reward people who follow safety rules
Solution 5: Improve Roads and Infrastructure
What can be done?
Organisations can work to improve roads, add better markings and signs, and improve lighting.
How? – Fix potholes and damaged sections – Add clear road markings and signs – Install better lighting on highways – Create safe pedestrian crossings – Build bicycle lanes to separate cyclists from cars
Solution 6: Enforce Rules Fairly
What can be done?
Organisations can make sure that people who break traffic rules face consequences. This encourages people to follow the rules.
How? – Stop drivers who break rules and give them fines – Take away licences from dangerous drivers – Prosecute drivers who cause serious accidents – Make sure punishments are fair and consistent
Solution 7: Invest in Alternative Transport
What can be done?
Organisations can encourage people to use safer forms of transport, like bicycles and public buses, instead of private cars.
How? – Build bicycle lanes – Improve public transport systems – Create pedestrian-friendly areas – Encourage employers to allow flexible work hours to reduce rush-hour traffic
PART 4: HOW YOU CAN HELP
As a young person in Ghana, you can help improve road safety:
✓ Follow traffic rules – Wear your seatbelt, don’t use your phone while driving, obey speed limits
✓ Be a responsible pedestrian – Cross at designated crossings, look both ways before crossing
✓ Wear safety equipment – If you ride a motorcycle or bicycle, wear a helmet
✓ Speak up – Tell adults about unsafe driving you see
SENARIOS
THREE CASE STUDY SCENARIOS: ACCRA-KUMASI HIGHWAY
CASE STUDY 1: THE OVERLOADED TRUCK
Location: Accra-Kumasi Highway, near Nsawam (Eastern Region)
Time: 2:45 PM on a Friday afternoon
The Scenario:
A commercial truck is travelling from Accra to Kumasi carrying building materials like sand, cement, and steel rods. The truck is carrying more weight than it should—the materials are stacked very high, even above the truck’s cabin.
The driver, Kwame, has been driving for 6 hours without stopping to rest. He is tired. He is also answering phone calls from his boss about when the materials will arrive, which takes his attention away from the road.
As the truck goes down a steep hill near Nsawam, Kwame finds it difficult to control the vehicle. The truck moves across both lanes of the road and hits a family car. The family car is pushed to the side of the road. Two people in the family car are hurt, and one person is unconscious. The truck driver is stuck inside the truck cabin. Many other vehicles are now stopped on the highway, creating a long traffic jam.
Key Details: – Road safety issues in this case: The truck is carrying too much weight, the driver is tired, the driver is using his phone while driving, the truck may not have been properly maintained – Which organisations should help: MTTU (to manage traffic), DVLA (to check if the vehicle is safe), NRSA (to coordinate the response), Ghana Highways Authority (to check the road), Emergency services (to help the injured people) – Challenges these organisations might face: It takes time for different organisations to work together, ambulances may take a long time to arrive, there may not be clear warning signs on the steep hill
CASE STUDY 2: THE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT DURING RUSH HOUR
Location: Accra-Kumasi Highway, Tema interchange area (approaching Eastern Region)
Time: 5:30 PM on a Wednesday (when many people are travelling home from work)
The Scenario:
A commercial motorcycle (Okada) is moving through heavy traffic during the time when many people are going home from work. The rider, Ama, is not wearing a safety helmet, and her two passengers are also not wearing helmets. Ama is riding quickly to complete more trips and earn more money.
A car ahead suddenly changes direction without warning. Ama tries to avoid it but loses control of the motorcycle. The motorcycle slides across the road. Ama and one passenger fall onto the road; the other passenger lands in a drainage ditch beside the road. A car following behind almost hits them.
Ama has a head injury. One passenger has a broken leg. People stop to help, but there is no one trained in first aid nearby. There are also no traffic officers at this spot to help manage the situation and keep other vehicles safe.
Key Details: – Road safety issues in this case: The motorcycle is going too fast, no one is wearing safety helmets, the car driver did not signal before changing direction, there are not enough traffic officers on the road during busy times – Which organisations should help: MTTU (to manage traffic and enforce rules), NRSA (to teach people about safety), DVLA (to make sure motorcycle riders are properly trained and licensed), Emergency services (to help the injured people) – Challenges these organisations might face: There are not enough traffic officers during busy times, many people do not know about the importance of wearing helmets, it is difficult to coordinate help quickly
CASE STUDY 3: THE ACCIDENT AT NIGHT ON A DARK ROAD SECTION
Location: Accra-Kumasi Highway, between Amasaman and Asokwa (Eastern Region)
Time: 10:15 PM (at night)
The Scenario:
A man named Mr. Osei is walking along the highway at night to reach a nearby village. This section of the road does not have good lighting, and the road markings are not clear. A commercial bus is travelling quickly through the darkness. The bus driver does not see Mr. Osei in time. The bus hits him and continues driving without stopping.
Mr. Osei is left on the roadside with serious injuries. Another vehicle stops and calls for help, but the nearest ambulance is 45 minutes away. By the time help arrives, Mr. Osei has lost a lot of blood and is in very serious condition.
The bus driver is never found because there are no cameras on that section of the road, and the people who saw the accident can only remember a few details about the bus.
Key Details: – Road safety issues in this case: The road does not have good lighting, the road markings are not clear, the bus driver was going too fast, the bus driver did not stop to help, there are no safety measures to protect people walking on the road – Which organisations should help: Ghana Highways Authority (to improve the road and add lighting), MTTU (to find the bus driver and investigate), NRSA (to teach people about road safety), DVLA (to make sure drivers follow the rules), Emergency services (to help Mr. Osei) – Challenges these organisations might face: It costs a lot of money to improve roads and add lighting, it is difficult to find the bus driver without cameras, there is not enough money for emergency services, different organisations do not always work well together.
