The Minister for Transport, Joseph Nikpe Bukari, has announced that the government will soon introduce timelines for removing broken-down vehicles from the roads, alongside new powers for the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to take unsafe vehicles off the road.

Speaking in a radio interview with Accra-based Citi FM on Thursday [October 2, 2025], Mr Bukari said the Cabinet has approved proposals that would be taken to Parliament as part of amendments to the Road Traffic Act.

“We are saying that when your car breaks down in town, in 30 minutes, you must be able to clear it. On the highway, within one hour, you must be able to clear it,” he explained.

He added that drivers who fail to comply would have their vehicles towed at their own expense.

“If you don’t do that, then the National Road Safety Authority, working with the DVLA and other agencies, will be empowered to tow it to safety and then surcharge you,” Mr Bukari said.

In April 2025, the NRSA announced it was pushing for a new law to make it compulsory for vehicle owners to subscribe to towing companies or insurers. This is to ensure that vehicle owners can tow broken-down vehicles to safety within 30 to 45 minutes. 

Draft documents at the time also proposed surcharges for owners who abandoned their vehicles.

Mr Bukari said the new amendment would build on those proposals by giving the NRSA clear legal powers to act.

“We want to amend the law such that if the Road Safety Authority realises that the vehicle is not fit to be on the road, they can take it off the road,” he stated.

The minister said the measures were aimed at addressing indiscipline and congestion on the country’s roads.

“The indiscipline on our roads is not only from the motorbike riders. Even our drivers themselves… and that is why we are putting these measures in place,” he said.

He also revealed that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) was being strengthened to make compliance easier.

“Now, at the Adenta office, we have made it 24 hours for the roadworthy certificate. So if your roadworthy certificate expires, you don’t have any excuse. The DVLA is also opening more offices across the country to make sure that people can easily access roadworthy certificates,” Mr Bukari added.