Mahama defends speed cameras after child deaths
President Mahama says Ghana cannot delay stricter traffic enforcement as children continue to die on roads.
President John Dramani Mahama defended the TraffiTech-GH speed enforcement system, stating that the deaths and injuries of schoolchildren hit by speeding vehicles made stricter traffic regulation necessary. He said Ghana could not afford to delay measures to control speeding while children were losing their lives or suffering permanent disabilities on their way from school. The president stressed that protecting vulnerable road users, especially schoolchildren, must be a priority in the nation's efforts to reduce road crashes.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, President Mahama argued that protecting lives justified using technology for traffic enforcement. He rejected public concerns about penalty costs and road conditions, stating that road maintenance and traffic law enforcement were not mutually exclusive. He cited the United Kingdom, where speed cameras operate despite imperfect roads, to support his view that enforcement should not wait for all infrastructure issues to be resolved.
Road safety statistics show Ghana recorded 2,949 road crash deaths in 2025, an 18.2 per cent increase from 2,494 in 2024. The crashes also caused 16,714 injuries, and pedestrian knockdowns rose by seven per cent to 2,561 cases. President Mahama stated that controlling excessive speed is an immediate road safety intervention, particularly in areas with many pedestrians and children.
Why it mattersGhanaian schoolchildren are dying or suffering permanent injuries from speeding vehicles on their way home from school.