The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has called on the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service to arrest and prosecute pedestrians who deliberately refuse to use designated footbridges when crossing busy roads.
The NRSA Director-General, Abraham Amaliba, said stricter enforcement of road traffic regulations was necessary to reduce road accidents, pedestrian knockdowns and fatalities across Ghana.
Speaking at the launch of the Safe Crossing, Safe Lives campaign at Madina Zongo in Accra on October 28, 2026, Mr Amaliba emphasised that footbridges were provided to protect pedestrians and should not be treated as decorative structures.
He urged the police MTTD to collaborate with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure pedestrians comply with road safety regulations. He also called for the removal of traders and hawkers occupying pedestrian walkways, warning that such obstructions increase the risk of road accidents.
Ghana Records Nearly 21,000 Pedestrian Road Crash Deaths
Road safety statistics highlight the seriousness of pedestrian-related accidents in Ghana. Between 1991 and 2025, a total of 63,599 people reportedly died in road crashes nationwide, with approximately 20,988 deaths resulting from pedestrian knockdowns.
According to the NRSA, pedestrian knockdowns account for about 33 per cent of fatalities from reported road accidents, making pedestrian safety a major national concern.
The Safe Crossing, Safe Lives campaign, organised by the Greater Accra Regional NRSA, seeks to promote responsible pedestrian behaviour and encourage the use of footbridges and designated crossing points.
The initiative is targeting high-risk areas, including Madina, Adentan, Lapaz and Weija, where pedestrian-related road crashes remain a concern.
Pedestrians Risk Prosecution for Ignoring Footbridges
Under Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), pedestrians are required to use available footbridges and underpasses when crossing designated highways.
Section 154(3) makes it an offence for pedestrians to ignore an available footbridge or underpass. Under Section 154(10), offenders may face a fine of up to five penalty units, imprisonment for up to seven days, or both, upon summary conviction.
Mr Amaliba maintained that enforcing these provisions would help discourage dangerous road-crossing practices and save lives.
Ambulance Service Warns of Economic Impact of Road Accidents
An Advanced Emergency Medical Technician with the National Ambulance Service, Dr Daniel Asare, also called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to reduce pedestrian knockdowns and other road traffic accidents.
He explained that serious road crashes place additional pressure on Ghana’s emergency medical response system, as ambulances can remain occupied for several hours transporting accident victims to hospitals.
According to him, this can delay emergency assistance for other patients, including pregnant women, stroke victims and children experiencing severe asthma attacks.
Dr Asare therefore encouraged the public to prioritise road safety, stressing that preventing accidents through responsible pedestrian behaviour is better than relying on emergency medical services after a crash.
He urged pedestrians to use footbridges and designated crossing facilities, describing safe road crossing as an important way to protect lives and reduce pressure on Ghana’s ambulance service.
The NRSA says road safety is a shared responsibility and is urging motorists, pedestrians, traders, law enforcement agencies and local authorities to work together to reduce road accidents and prevent avoidable deaths.
Source: newsthemegh.com