Road Safety C’ssion will ‘bite’ after conversion into an ‘Authority’ – Transport Minister

The Minister of Transport Kwaku Ofori Asiamah has revealed that the government through Cabinet has given the green light for the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) to be turned into an ‘Authority’ to enable it to enforce road safety standards.

The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) of Ghana was established by an Act of Parliament (NRSC Act 567 of 1999).

The Act mandates the NRSC to play the lead role in championing, promoting and coordinating Road Safety activities in Ghana. The main objective of the National Road Safety Commission is to plan, develop and promote road safety and to coordinate policies related to road safety.

• Undertake nationwide road safety Education, Information and Publicity
• Develop a long term road safety plan
• Promote road safety research

Addressing the media, Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah expressed confidence that when the Commission is turned into an ‘authority’ it will to a large extent enable it to ensure compliance

“The National Road Safety Commission in its current statute lacks the capacity to enforce road safety standards, procedures and practices due to constraints in the Act establishing it. The Act uses operative words such as encourage, advise and recommend which are clearly suggestive and does not afford the National Road Safety Commission with the mandate to enforce compliance. In addressing this capacity constraint, the President about three months ago through Cabinet has approved that the Commission be converted into an Authority to ensure compliance.”