The new Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519) is more detailed than we first reported. The full 14-page offences schedule prepared by D/Sgt. Nana Kwadwo Otibu-Gyan, Legal & Prosecution Unit, RHQ/Ho shows that after sections on tyres, brakes and learner drivers, the law also goes hard on everyday indiscipline we see on Ghana roads every day.
STOP SIGNS, RED LIGHTS AND RACING — THE POLICE ARE COMING FOR YOU
This is where trotro and private drivers fall every day:
– Street racing, drag race, speed competition — Section 221(1): Driving or permitting another to drive in a race, speed competition, endurance test on a road — Fine: 10-25 penalty units or up to 30 days jail or both. Participating in such race where not authorized — 221(2) — same penalty.
– Failing to stop at STOP or YIELD — Section 222(1) to 222(6): If you fail to stop or yield right-of-way at intersection marked by stop or yield sign, or fail to stop before pedestrian crossing — Fine: 10-30 penalty units or up to 30 days or both. Approaching a yield sign without slowing down — 222(2) — same.
– Jumping red light — Section 222(7)-(8): This is now explicitly listed. Jumping the red light at a signalised intersection — 10-30 units or 30 days.
– Railway crossing — Section 223: Failing to stop within prescribed distance of railway line at grade crossing, or proceeding before safe — 5-25 units or 30 days. Walking, driving or riding through, around or under a closed railway gate — 223(3) — 5-25 units or 30 days.
OVERTAKING, TRAFFIC OFFICERS AND WRONG PARKING
– Overtaking a vehicle stopped at pedestrian crossing to let a pedestrian cross — Section 224(1): Many drivers in Accra do this. Penalty: 10-25 units or 30 days. Failing to slow down when approaching a marked pedestrian crossing — 224(2) — same.
– Disobeying traffic control officers/devices — 226(3): 10-25 units or 30 days.
– Restricted use of bus stop or taxi stand — 227(3): Using bus stop without authorization — 10-25 units or 30 days.
– Parking in disabled space without entitlement — 228(3): This is new and strict. If you park in a space reserved for persons with disability without entitlement — Fine: up to 25 units or up to 8 months jail or both.
PROCESSIONS, FUNERALS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT DISCIPLINE
– Driving in a procession without obeying rules — 229(2): 10-25 units or 30 days.
– Driving through a funeral or other authorized procession — 230(3): 10-25 units or 30 days.
– Stopping/parking buses or taxis outside designated stops/stands — 231(4): 10-25 units or 30 days.
– Failing to provide facilities for persons with disability on public transport — 232(2): 10-25 units or 30 days.
THE PARKING LAW THAT WILL CATCH EVERYONE — SECTION 235
This is the longest section. Almost every wrong parking in Ghana is now punishable:
– Parking contrary to traffic sign, or within prohibited distance of junction — 235(1): 10-25 units or 30 days.
– Parking in front of building entrance/exit — 235(1)(d)-(e): same.
– Parking in a designated parking area contrary to instructions — 235(2): same.
– Parking in loading area, reserved permit holder bay, on slip roads, hard shoulder, central reserve, or near junction/bend/crossing so as to obscure traffic sign — 235(3): same.
– Parking abreast another vehicle (double parking) — 235(4): same.
– Parking in area designated for different category of vehicle — 235(5): same.
BILLBOARDS, TV IN CAR, AND AUTOMATED FINES (THE NEW SPY CAMERAS)
Two very modern offences:
– Outdoor advertising sign interfering with traffic or obscuring traffic sign/device — Section 236(3): Fine: 25-50 units or up to 3 months. This targets those huge billboards at intersections in Accra and Kumasi that block traffic lights.
– Using/operating a television monitor on the dashboard while vehicle is in motion — Section 237(2): That trotro driver watching football while driving — Fine: up to 25 units or up to 30 days or both.
– Automated road traffic offences — Section 242(12): This is the game changer. Offences detected by Traffic Enforcement Devices (cameras). The law creates a graduated automated-fine regime:
– 1st to 3rd offence: 10 penalty units (GHS 120)
– 4th offence: 15 units (GHS 180)
– 5th offence: 20 units (GHS 240)
– 6th offence within 24 months: Escalates to court-ordered licence revocation/suspension (min. 12 months), re-training and re-testing.
This means very soon, the police may not need to stop you. The camera will capture you speeding or jumping red light, and the fine will come to your DVLA address.
THE GENERAL PENALTY — REGULATION 243
The final note on the document is critical:
“Regulation 243 (General penalty) applies where the Regulations do not prescribe a specific penalty for a contravention.”
So if your offence is in L.I. 2519 but no penalty is stated, you still fall under Fine: 10-50 penalty units or imprisonment up to 8 months or both.
Regulation 244 additionally allows a court to order re-training for offences involving carelessness, recklessness or wilful disregard of the Regulations, over and above the fine or jail.
What Drivers Should Do Now
1. One penalty unit = GHS 12. So even 10 units is GHS 120, 50 units is GHS 600, 200 units (drunk driving) is GHS 2,400 plus possible 40 months jail.
2. Stop washing and repairing cars on the road — Section 139(3)(b) — 25 units or 30 days.
3. Stop preaching and hawking on a moving public/commercial vehicle — Section 141 — 10-50 units or up to 8 months.
4. Stop selling goods on/alongside a road, on pedestrian walkway, near railway crossing — Section 142(1) — up to 50 units or 3 months.
The full L.I. 2519 is already in force. The Police MTTD and DVLA are now using this schedule to prepare charge sheets.
As D/Sgt. Otibu-Gyan’s compilation shows, from your tyres to your number plate, from your phone to your TV, from how you park to how you walk as a pedestrian — everything is now an offence with a jail option.
Better to learn it now than to learn it in court.
Alexander Afriyie, supervising editor, ghanacrimereport.com and ghanatalk.com