Transport unions give government one week to clear traders from bus stops

Commercial transport unions in Ghana have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government to remove traders and unauthorized vendors from bus stops and pedestrian walkways. The demand, spearheaded by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other driver organizations, comes ahead of the full implementation of the TraffiTech-GH automated enforcement system scheduled for November 1, 2026. Drivers expressed concern that they will be unfairly penalized by the automated system for stopping in non-designated areas because their official bays are currently occupied by market stalls and traders.

Union representatives highlighted that major transport hubs, including Kaneshie, Accra CMB, and Kasoa, have been effectively converted into marketplaces, obstructing the safe operation of commercial vehicles. Samuel Amoah of the GPRTU noted that the occupation of these zones violates Regulation 142 of the Road Traffic Regulations, which prohibits the sale of goods on pedestrian walkways and at bus stops. The unions argue that the congestion forces drivers to pick up and drop off passengers in unsafe locations, creating hazards for all road users and increasing the likelihood of accidents.

The TraffiTech-GH initiative, managed by the Ghana Police Service, uses digital cameras and sensors to monitor traffic violations and improve compliance with road laws. While drivers have expressed reservations about its rollout, the police report that the pilot phase of the program has already led to a notable reduction in road incidents. According to data from the Ghana News Agency, road crashes decreased from 1,108 in September 2025 to 1,003 in September 2026. During the same period, road-related injuries fell from 1,405 to 1,194, and fatalities dropped from 243 to 224.

Despite these safety gains, transport operators maintain that the automated system cannot be effectively implemented until the infrastructure is cleared of obstructions. The unions have called on the relevant ministries and municipal authorities to enforce existing laws and restore order to the country's terminals within the one-week deadline. They insist that for the technology-driven program to be fair and successful, drivers must have unhindered access to designated stops to avoid being wrongfully cited by the new monitoring equipment.