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