President John Dramani Mahama has urged motorists concerned about the cost of penalties under the newly introduced TraffiTech-GH traffic enforcement system to observe speed limits rather than complain about the fines.
The President maintained that drivers who complied with prescribed speed limits had nothing to fear, insisting that avoiding traffic violations was the simplest way to escape penalties.
“If it [fines] is too expensive, then don’t overspeed; that’s all, there is a solution to it,” he said.
Mr Mahama made the remarks in an interview with 1957 News on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at Jumby Bay Island in Antigua and Barbuda.
His comments come amid public debate over the fines imposed under the automated traffic monitoring system, with some motorists questioning whether the penalties are proportionate, particularly in view of the poor condition of roads in parts of the country.
Compliance, not complaints
The President defended the introduction of TraffiTech-GH, arguing that enforcing speed limits was necessary to address reckless driving and reduce preventable road crashes.
He rejected calls for the government to delay the deployment of the technology until roads and related infrastructure had been fully improved.
According to him, road rehabilitation and traffic law enforcement should proceed simultaneously, stressing that poor road conditions did not justify speeding.
He cited the United Kingdom as an example, noting that speed cameras were deployed there despite imperfections in its road network.
“My understanding is that TraffiTech has begun with overspeeding; they have not yet added the other components of jumping red light, parking wrongly,” he said.
He added: “And so I hear they [the public] say we should fix the roads before we introduce TraffiTech. I mean, it doesn’t happen like that. The roads are not perfect in the UK, and yet they have speed cameras.”
Mahama directs installation of warning signs
Despite defending the enforcement system, President Mahama has directed the police and agencies responsible for its implementation to install clear warning signs ahead of locations where speed cameras are deployed.
He said motorists should be adequately informed when approaching monitored sections of the road, describing transparency as an essential part of introducing technology-driven traffic enforcement.
“All I will urge is that the police and those implementing TraffiTech should put signs showing where the cameras are, because that is one of the things you need to do if you are introducing this kind of innovation,” he said.
“You need to put signposts, warning motorists, that there is a speed camera ahead. I think that transparency is important,” he added.
The directive is intended to ensure that motorists are aware of the locations of speed cameras and understand how the monitoring system operates.
Road safety remains central to enforcement
President Mahama also emphasised the importance of stricter speed enforcement, pointing to the dangers speeding vehicles pose to pedestrians, particularly schoolchildren.
He said children returning from school were frequently knocked down by vehicles, with some losing their lives while others suffered permanent injuries.
“If you look at the number of children knocked down every year in Ghana when they are coming from school, you will understand why it is important for us to check overspeeding,” he said.
“Children coming from school are knocked down and killed or permanently injured, and so it is important for us to check speeding,” he added.
TraffiTech-GH initially focuses on detecting speeding offences, with other violations, including running red lights and illegal parking, expected to be incorporated into the broader enforcement framework.
The initiative forms part of efforts to strengthen compliance with road traffic regulations through technology and improve road safety.
While the President has acknowledged the need for transparency in deploying the cameras, his message to motorists concerned about the cost of penalties remains clear: observing speed limits is the surest way to avoid fines.
