Motorists across Ghana will no longer face routine roadside checks by personnel of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) for certain traffic offences from September 2026, as the government introduces a new digital traffic enforcement system.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, announced that the new system will use cameras and other digital technologies to detect and enforce more than 47 road traffic offences.
The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to modernise road safety and traffic enforcement in Ghana, improve efficiency and reduce direct interactions between motorists and police officers.
New Traffic Cameras to Detect Road Offences
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, August 24, 2026, during the Government Accountability Series, the Interior Minister said the MTTD would deploy several technologies to monitor road traffic violations.
These will include:
- Face-recognition cameras
- Mobile traffic cameras
- In-vehicle cameras
- Handheld digital devices
- Radar systems
The system is expected to become fully operational in September 2026. Once implemented, MTTD officers will stop conducting manual roadside checks for offences covered by the digital enforcement system.
Motorists to Receive Electronic Traffic Fines
Under the new arrangement, cameras and other devices will capture suspected traffic violations. The recorded footage will then be reviewed by police officers at a central back-office control room.
Once an offence is verified, the motorist will receive an electronic notification on their mobile phone containing details of the violation, the applicable penalty and instructions on how to make payment.
The system is expected to make traffic fines and road enforcement in Ghana more transparent and efficient.
No More Manual Licence and Seatbelt Checks
According to Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, police officers will no longer routinely stop motorists to physically inspect their driving licences.
He added that motorists would also not be pulled over simply to check seatbelt compliance or vehicle insurance, where those violations can be detected through the digital system.
Motorists who stop at toll booths could receive electronic alerts if a traffic offence has already been recorded against their vehicle.
Digital Traffic Enforcement to Fight Corruption
The Interior Minister said the new technology could also help reduce opportunities for corruption in traffic enforcement by limiting face-to-face interactions between police officers and motorists.
His comments followed recent Ghana Statistical Service data indicating that the MTTD, general duty officers and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were among Police Service units perceived by respondents as having higher levels of corruption.
Muntaka said reducing direct negotiations between motorists and police officers could make it more difficult for offenders to avoid prosecution through informal payments.
He referenced instances where motorists allegedly paid small amounts, including GH¢5 or GH¢10, to avoid prosecution for traffic violations.
Digitalisation Expected to Improve Revenue Collection
The Minister also connected the new traffic enforcement initiative to the Ministry of the Interior’s broader digital transformation programme.
He explained that digitalisation had helped improve revenue collection from some government services, with certain revenues that previously took a year to collect now being realised within a single quarter.
He clarified that the increased revenue should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of theft, explaining that digital systems had helped close administrative loopholes and improve collection efficiency.
The Minister also encouraged members of the public to provide suggestions on how potential weaknesses in the new digital traffic enforcement system can be addressed.
Interior Ministry Expands Digital Security Systems
The digital traffic camera initiative forms part of a wider programme to modernise services under the Ministry of the Interior.
Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak said an automated fire safety compliance system was expected to begin implementation by the end of August 2026.
He also announced plans for a National Crime Automated Biometric Identification System, which is expected to expand to 751 centres nationwide by the end of 2026.
The government says the broader digitalisation agenda is aimed at improving public safety, law enforcement, accountability, revenue mobilisation and service delivery in Ghana.
Source: newsthemegh.com