All road transport companies and transport‑related service providers in Ghana will now be required to register with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) before beginning operations, a new mandate under the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1153) and the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519).
Kwame Koduah Attuahene, Director of Registration, Inspection and Compliance at the NRSA, explained that the framework covers not only road transport companies but also businesses providing related services such as safety equipment importers, event organisers and vehicle maintenance workshops. The aim is to bring operators outside recognised unions—often referred to as “wa’wa”—under formal regulation, with an entry‑level qualification for those not belonging to unions.
Transport companies must first register with the Registrar of Companies, then obtain a registration and annual operating licence from the NRSA, and finally secure an operating permit from the relevant district assembly before commencing services. The same three‑step process applies to all transport‑related service providers covered by the new law.
Under the new system, NRSA will handle market‑entry certification and approvals, while district assemblies will oversee routes and issue local operating permits. Operators offering multiple service categories—such as intercity, intracity, logistics, institutional transport, car rentals or digital transport services—may qualify for broader classifications.
NRSA warned that non‑compliance could lead to enforcement action. The Authority has already begun registering some operators, with certifications expected to be issued later this month.
Those looking to enter the transport sector must now navigate a formal approval chain to ensure safety standards and regulatory compliance are met before they hit the road.
