President John Dramani Mahama told reporters in Antigua that Ghana should not wait for perfect roads before rolling out the TraffiTech‑GH traffic enforcement system. Speaking ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the former president said speed cameras are essential to curb speeding and safeguard vulnerable road users, especially schoolchildren who are often struck by fast‑moving vehicles.
The Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service launched TraffiTech‑GH on November 1, deploying camera technology to detect traffic violations with an initial focus on speeding. The system captures images of offenders and issues electronic notices to vehicle owners.
Critics, including some motorists and commercial transport operators, have urged the government to first address poor road conditions, traffic lights, road markings and speed‑limit signage. A few transport operators even threatened industrial action over the new system.
Mahama dismissed the argument that road conditions must be perfect before enforcement. “I hear they say we should fix the roads before we introduce TraffiTech. It does not work like that. I mean, the roads are not perfect in the UK, yet they have speed cameras,” he said. He added that the system has begun with checking speeding, with other offences such as red‑light running and wrong‑way parking to be added later.
The rollout has sparked debate over the balance between infrastructure improvement and enforcement technology. The government maintains that the system is a step toward safer roads, even as it continues to work on broader road infrastructure projects.
