Ghana has taken a significant step toward improving child safety on its roads with the launch of a new Driver’s Guide and the enforcement of strengthened provisions under the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1153).
The guide, developed by the Lada Institute in collaboration with the Global Road Safety Partnership, was unveiled at a stakeholder workshop focused on child passenger safety and injury prevention. The initiative forms part of broader national efforts to reduce rising child fatalities and injuries from road crashes.
At the core of the guide is a strong emphasis on the use of child restraint systems. It delivers a clear message to motorists and caregivers: children must always be properly secured in vehicles. The publication outlines practical steps to comply with the new law, which makes the use of child restraints mandatory.
Speaking at the event, Joshua Quist of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) explained that efforts to strengthen child protection began in February 2023 with a nationwide campaign to amend road traffic regulations. While the passage of the law marks a major milestone, he stressed that ensuring compliance remains the next critical challenge.
Stakeholders at the workshop highlighted that protecting children on the road requires collective responsibility. Parents, drivers, schools, enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, and government institutions all have roles to play. Key partners, including the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) and the Ministries of Transport and Education, reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the new measures.
Data presented during the workshop revealed troubling trends, with a growing number of fatalities involving very young children—particularly those aged between 0 and 3 years. Many of these incidents occur inside vehicles rather than on the road, underscoring the urgent need for proper restraint use.
Experts also pointed to risky cultural practices, such as carrying children on laps in moving vehicles, as a major cause of severe injuries and preventable deaths. Without appropriate restraints, children are highly vulnerable in the event of a crash.
Under the amended law, child restraints are now mandatory for all children up to age 12, aligning Ghana with international best practices. The legislation places responsibility on both drivers and guardians to ensure children are properly seated and secured at all times.
With more than 300 children reportedly killed in road crashes in 2025 alone, authorities are calling for urgent action. The workshop concluded with a strong appeal for intensified public education, strict enforcement of the law, and sustained collaboration across institutions to prevent avoidable child deaths on Ghana’s roads.
