The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has expressed deep concern over the rising incidence of road crashes, injuries, and fatalities across the country, describing the situation as troubling for road safety management.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday (22 December), the Public Relations Officer of the Authority, Pearl Adusu Sateckla, said recent accident statistics show a worrying trend that demands urgent, collective action.
“The National Road Safety Authority is very worried—very, very worried—about the recent state of accidents on our roads, especially the increase in the number of crashes, injuries, and deaths. All the indicators are not good news for road safety management in the country,” she said.
According to her, the Authority is engaging stakeholders to reverse what she described as a deteriorating road safety situation, particularly as the year draws to a close.
Operation Comply, Okada Campaign Launched
As part of measures to reduce road crashes, Sateckla announced the rollout of Operation Comply, a joint initiative between the Ghana Police Service and the NRSA.
Under the operation, road safety officers will educate and sensitise road users, while the police simultaneously enforce traffic regulations and bylaws on major highways.
“Road Safety staff will educate road users, and when the law is breached, the police will duly enforce it so people are aware of what is expected of them,” she explained.
She also revealed that the Authority, in collaboration with Greenbeck Philanthropic for Global Road Safety, has launched a targeted campaign aimed at commercial motorcycle (okada) riders, whose activities contribute significantly to road crashes.
The campaign focuses on reducing speeding, reckless riding, dangerous manoeuvres, and the non-use of helmets, which often result in fatal crashes involving riders and pedestrians.
“We will meet the riders where they are—at their stations, junctions, town halls, and through radio and television engagements—to get them to take absolute control of their safety and that of other road users,” she said.
Funding Constraints Affect Impact
Addressing concerns that some interventions may be coming late, Sateckla acknowledged that funding challenges have affected the timing and scale of the Authority’s programmes.
“Honestly speaking, the implementation of some programmes depends on the availability of funds. When funds are not readily available, you see us doing programmes later than expected or not as extensively as we want,” she said.
She described 2025 as a difficult year for the Authority, noting that its performance has not met internal expectations due largely to inadequate funding from the state.
“The year 2025, our performance has not been as good as it used to be. Funding has not been forthcoming as it should be, and this has been the case for many years,” she stated.
Legal Mandate, Technology to Improve Enforcement
Sateckla also cited delays in the passage of amendments to the Road Traffic Act as another major challenge, noting that the lack of a full legal mandate had constrained the Authority’s work.
“You cannot work effectively without a mandate. Now that the Act has been passed, it gives us more room and authority to do what we are mandated to do,” she said.
She disclosed that the NRSA, working with the police, has supported the deployment of traffic surveillance cameras nationwide to detect and deter road traffic infractions.
While admitting the Authority could have done better in 2025, she maintained that significant efforts were made under difficult circumstances.
“We could have done better this year, but funding and legislative delays affected us. With the revised Act now in place, we are hopeful that next year will be much better,” she said.
Sateckla expressed optimism that with improved funding and legal backing, the NRSA will strengthen enforcement and education efforts to curb road crashes in the coming year.
Credit Asaaseradio