Ghana Police: NRSA Urges Arrests for Footbridge Non-Use

• The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has urged Ghana's police to arrest pedestrians who fail to use designated footbridges.
• This enforcement drive aims to reduce road crashes and fatalities, particularly in high-risk areas of the Greater Accra Region.
• Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180) mandate footbridge use where provided, with non-compliance constituting an offense.
• Penalties for not using a footbridge include a fine of up to five penalty units, up to seven days imprisonment, or both.
• Pedestrian knockdowns account for 33% of road crash deaths in Ghana, highlighting the severity of the issue.

Individuals found in contravention of this regulation are liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding five penalty units, or imprisonment for a period of up to seven days, or both.

Ghana's National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has formally urged the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service to initiate arrests and subsequent prosecution of pedestrians who deliberately avoid using designated footbridges. This directive forms a critical component of broader efforts aimed at significantly reducing road crashes and associated fatalities across the nation. The call for strict NRSA pedestrian enforcement Ghana specifically targets locations where such crossing infrastructure has been made available, emphasizing that these facilities are not merely ornamental but are crucial for ensuring public safety.

Abraham Amaliba, the Director-General of the NRSA, underscored the necessity of rigorous enforcement of existing road traffic regulations. Speaking at the launch of the "Safe Crossing, Safe Lives" pedestrian safety campaign on October 28 at Madina Zongo in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, Amaliba stated that while there is no justification for arresting individuals where footbridges are absent, those who refuse to utilize provided footbridges must face prosecution. He explicitly called upon the police MTTD to commence the Ghana police arrest footbridge non-use initiative, asserting that the structures are intended for pedestrian use to ensure their safety. The campaign, an initiative by the Greater Accra Regional NRSA, seeks to foster safe pedestrian behavior and promote the correct use of footbridges and other designated crossing points, particularly in high-risk areas like Adentan, Madina, Lapaz, and Weija within the Greater Accra Region.

The legal foundation for this enforcement push is firmly established within the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180). These regulations explicitly mandate pedestrians to use footbridges or underpasses wherever such facilities are provided. Specifically, Regulation 154(3) stipulates that "A pedestrian who fails to use a footbridge or an underpass where one is provided, commits an offence." This provision clearly outlines the legal obligation for pedestrians to adhere to designated crossing methods.

Further elaborating on the consequences, Regulation 154(10) details the Ghana footbridge penalty for non-compliance. Individuals found in contravention of this regulation are liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding five penalty units, or imprisonment for a period of up to seven days, or both. This legal framework provides the police MTTD with the authority to carry out the arrests and prosecutions advocated by the NRSA, reinforcing the seriousness with which the authorities view pedestrian safety and adherence to traffic laws.

The intensified focus on pedestrian enforcement comes amidst alarming statistics regarding road safety in Ghana. Data from the NRSA indicates that pedestrian knockdowns are a significant contributor to road crash fatalities, accounting for 33 percent of all reported road crash deaths. A comprehensive analysis of NRSA statistics by Daily Graphic further reveals a grim picture: between 1991 and 2025, a staggering 63,599 individuals lost their lives in road crashes across Ghana, with approximately 20,988 of these fatalities directly resulting from pedestrian knockdowns. These figures underscore the urgent need for measures like the Ghana police arrest footbridge non-use campaign.

Beyond the direct fatalities, the issue is compounded by increasing encroachment on road pavements and infrastructure by traders and hawkers, which further endangers pedestrians. Abraham Amaliba also urged the police MTTD to collaborate with metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) to not only enforce footbridge usage but also to clear these pedestrian walkways. Dr. Daniel Asare, the Greater Accra Regional Administrator of the National Ambulance Service (NAS), highlighted the broader societal impact, noting that road crashes lead to significant economic implications and place immense pressure on the country's emergency response system. While government investments have improved ambulance response times, Dr. Asare emphasized that road crashes remain a major concern, with a single severe pedestrian incident capable of monopolizing an ambulance for several hours. The NRSA maintains that road safety is a shared responsibility, requiring concerted efforts from all stakeholders.

Lawyers should advise clients on the increased risk of arrest and prosecution for failing to use designated footbridges in Ghana, particularly in high-risk areas, given the NRSA's call for strict enforcement of Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180) which carries penalties of fines or imprisonment.

Source: Original reporting via graphic.com.gh