Mohammed Issah Bataglia, Member of Parliament for Sissala East and Board Member of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), has said TraffiTech-GH must be viewed beyond its potential to generate revenue for the government, arguing that its primary objective should be to save lives and protect property by promoting discipline on the roads.
He said the system’s use of technology to enforce traffic regulations could help address road indiscipline by reducing human interference, which he believes has made efforts to tackle reckless driving difficult.
“I think the bigger goal is not just about cashing in for government. It is to make sure that lives and properties are saved,” he said.
Bataglia noted that road accidents caused by reckless driving remained a major concern, adding that the human involvement in enforcing traffic regulations sometimes created challenges for institutions responsible for maintaining road safety.
“One of the biggest challenges in trying to fight this carnage is because there is so much human face involved, and dealing with it sometimes becomes quite difficult,” he said.
He also cited concerns about corruption and public perception surrounding institutions responsible for enforcing road regulations, suggesting that a technology-driven system could help address some of these challenges.
“Now that they have taken that human interface and are bringing in a system that will just deal with you, that is good,” he added.
The Sissala East MP further urged motorists to pay greater attention to road signs and speed limits, saying many drivers disregard the prescribed limits because they have become accustomed to escaping enforcement.
He cited the motorway as an example, explaining that although the speed limit is generally 100 kilometres per hour, some motorists drive at speeds of 150 or even 180 kilometres per hour.
“If you are supposed to drive on the motorway, normally you are supposed to do 100 kilometres per hour, but once you step on the motorway, people want to go 150. Even some go 180,” he said.
Bataglia also pointed out that speed limits vary depending on the road, noting that motorists are expected to drive at 50 kilometres per hour in town and around 80 kilometres per hour on some highways.
He said observing these limits, alongside other road regulations, would help restore discipline and make Ghana’s roads safer.
“Once we are conscious of this and take all these into consideration, I am sure we will be able to at least bring some sanity onto our roads,” he said.
