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WHO hails Ghana’s new road safety law as lifesaving milestone
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has hailed Ghana’s new road traffic law and safety standards on child restraints and motorcycle helmets as a critical intervention that will save lives and prevent serious injuries on the roads.
The law and standards, adopted by Parliament in December 2025 and enforced from early 2026, bring Ghana “largely in line with WHO road safety legal recommendations,” the Organisation said in its latest publication shared with the Ghana News Agency.
The WHO noted that the reforms come at a time of growing concern over road traffic deaths in the country, which rose by 65 per cent between 2016 and 2021 to nearly 3,000 deaths annually.
With close to 26 road deaths per 100,000 population, Ghana’s fatality rate is significantly higher than the WHO African Regional average of 19 per 100,000 and the global average of 15 per 100,000.
“Ghana’s amendment to the national road traffic act and new safety standards marks a major step forward for road safety,” Dr Fiona Braka, the WHO Representative in Ghana said.
“WHO is proud to have helped shape these changes that will save lives on the roads,” he added.
Dr Braka emphasized that effective road safety required more than legislation, pointing to the need for “good laws and policies, strong leadership, coordination and enforcement” to build transport systems that put people and safety first.
A key lifesaving provision of the new law is the comprehensive framework on child safety restraints. WHO said the law meets all its recommendations, including mandatory child car seats that are appropriate to the age, height, weight and physical vulnerabilities of infants and young children.
“Child safety restraints have been shown to reduce deaths in crashes by up to 71 per cent among younger infants,” the WHO said, adding that it has produced a manual for decision-makers to support the use of vehicle occupant restraints.
The WHO also highlighted the strengthened drink-driving provisions as another major public health gain. Drinking and driving, it said, significantly increases the risk of fatal road crashes.
Evidence shows that between 33 per cent and 69 per cent of drivers killed in road collisions in low- and middle-income countries had consumed alcohol.
Under the new law, Ghana has reduced the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for drivers from 0.08 to 0.05 grams per decilitre, a level that WHO said meets most of its legal recommendations.
Motorcycle safety was also identified as a major lifesaving focus of the reforms. Motorcycle riders account for about a third of all road deaths in Ghana, according to WHO.
Under the new standards, all riders are required to wear safe and high-quality helmets. WHO said such helmets reduce the risk of death by more than six times in the event of a crash.
The WHO noted that Ghana’s achievements form part of a broader global effort to reduce road traffic injuries and deaths.
Globally, nearly 1.2 million people die from road traffic crashes each year, WHO said, noting that road crashes remain the leading cause of death among children and young people aged five to 29. –GNA
About 200 company secretaries, governance professionals and institutional leaders will gather in Accra for the ‘Company Secretaries Summit’ next month.
It is aimed at strengthening governance practices and enhance boardroom effectiveness across the country.
The summit, which is scheduled for July 16 at the Labadi Beach Hotel seeks to equip governance professionals with the knowledge, skills, and networks required to navigate the increasingly complex demands of modern corporate leadership.
It will feature keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions focusing on emerging governance trends, boardroom dynamics, regulatory compliance, digital transformation, and stakeholder expectations.
According to the convener, Catherine Engmann, the summit comes at a critical time when governance professionals are under growing pressure to support sound decision-making, strengthen governance culture, and respond effectively to changing institutional and regulatory environments.
“This gathering is not just another conference. It is a platform for governance leaders who are already operating at the highest level and intend to stay there,” she said.
She noted that the programme was designed to provide participants with practical tools, fresh insights, and valuable professional connections.
According to Ms Engmann, a major highlight of the event will be the awards ceremony, which will recognise individuals and organisations that have demonstrated excellence in governance practice and made significant contributions to improving board effectiveness and corporate accountability.
She mentioned that the summit will also offer participants an opportunity to benchmark their practices against industry standards, exchange ideas with peers, and explore innovative approaches to governance challenges.
Beyond the formal sessions, the event is expected to foster networking and collaboration among governance professionals, helping to strengthen governance practices across Ghana’s corporate and institutional landscape.
Speaking about the vision behind the initiative, Ms Engmann, said the summit was inspired by the need to create a dedicated platform that recognises the critical role played by company secretaries and governance professionals.
According to her, the Company Secretaries’ Summit and Awards reflects her conviction that Ghana’s governance professionals deserve an annual platform where they can engage in meaningful discussions, build strategic relationships, and receive recognition for their contributions to effective governance.
Registration for the summit, she said was currently open, with interested professionals encouraged to secure their participation ahead of the event.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
-1 cup dried soya beans
-4–5 cups for water (for blending)
-Extra water for soaking
-Sugar, honey or dates (optional, for sweetness)
-Vanilla extract (optional)
Preparation
-Pick through the beans to remove stones or damaged seeds and rinse thoroughly
-Place them in a large bowl and cover with plenty of water. Soak for at least eight hours or overnight to soften it to blend easier
– After soaking, rub the beans with your hands as the skin begins to remove
– Removing the skins helps reduce the ‘beany’ taste and improves texture
– Put the soaked beans into a blender with 4–5 cups of clean water
-Blend until smooth and milky. (You may need to do this in batches depending on your blender size).
– Using a clean muslin cloth or fine sieve, strain the blended mixture into a pot. (Squeeze well to extract as much liquid as possible).
-The leftover pulp is called okara. Don’t throw it away — it can be used in baking, porridge, or even added to stews.
– Place the strained milk on medium heat and make it boil. Stir continuously to prevent burning or overflowing.
– Allow it to boil for at least 20–25 minutes. Proper boiling removes the raw taste and neutralises natural compounds that can upset the stomach.
-Once boiled a little sugar or honey. Pulse.gh
Health benefits of Soya beans
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