New Road Traffic Law Strengthens Child Safety Provisions – LADA Institute

By: Solomon Nartey Tetteh

The Project Coordinator at the LADA Institute, Shirley Haizel-Ferguson, has highlighted key child protection measures introduced under the newly amended road traffic law, describing them as a major step toward improving child safety on Ghana’s roads.

Speaking during a sensitisation workshop aimed at disseminating child-centred provisions of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 683), Ms. Haizel-Ferguson noted that the updated law reflects both international standards and local advocacy efforts.

“The Road Traffic Act has been amended. In December, Parliament passed the Road Traffic Amendment Act, 2025 (Act 683), and part of the new additions are strengthened provisions relating to children,” she said.

According to Ms. Haizel-Ferguson, one of the most significant changes is the revision of the age limit for children sitting in the front seat of vehicles. Previously, the law restricted children under five years from occupying the front seat. However, following research and advocacy, the threshold has been increased to 12 years.

“In the new law, if your child is not up to 12 years, it is a crime to place that child in the front seat,” she explained.

She noted that the revision aligns more closely with recommendations by the World Health Organization, which suggests a higher age threshold. The amended law also introduces mandatory use of child restraint systems for children within the zero to 12-year age bracket.

To ensure quality and safety, the Ghana Standards Authority has been tasked with developing specifications for approved child restraint systems, preventing the indiscriminate sale and use of substandard products.

Ms. Haizel-Ferguson emphasised that while the legal framework is now in place, effective enforcement and public awareness remain critical challenges.

“The next step is how do we enforce and ensure compliance. We believe the starting point is creating awareness of these provisions,” she said.

She stressed that the workshop also served as a platform to identify potential implementation gaps and discuss practical solutions. Stakeholders including school heads, private school operators, Parent-Teacher Associations, and the Ghana Education Service participated in the discussions.

According to her, sustained advocacy and collaboration among stakeholders will be essential to ensure the law achieves its intended impact of reducing child injuries and fatalities on Ghana’s roads.

The sensitisation programme forms part of broader efforts to promote road safety awareness and ensure that the new legal provisions translate into safer travel conditions for children across the country.

However, Team Lead of the LADA Institute, Dr. Rowland Atta-Kesson, revealed that the newly amended Road Traffic Act reflects years of coordinated advocacy and research aimed at strengthening child safety on Ghana’s roads.

Dr. Atta-Kesson disclosed that the initiative began in February 2023 with a targeted campaign to push for reforms prioritising child protection in vehicles.

“In February 2023, we launched a campaign to advocate for the amendment of Ghana’s road traffic laws with a specific focus on strengthening provisions for child safety,” he said.

He acknowledged that with support from the Global Road Safety Partnership, the Institute conducted research into international best practices, using the findings to shape its policy proposals.

Dr. Atta-Kesson highlighted that the campaign engaged a broad spectrum of stakeholders across government and civil society, including the Ministry of Transport, the National Road Safety Authority, and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Ghana Police Service.

While commending the Government of Ghana for passing the amendment, Dr. Atta-Kesson cautioned that legislation alone is not enough to guarantee safer roads.