- MPs called for stronger enforcement of rules on securing container loads carried by trucks.
- Bright Asamoah Brefo cited Regulation 52 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180).
- Peter Lanchene Toobu said safety checks should be completed at the point where containers are loaded.
Members of Parliament have called for stronger enforcement of road-safety rules governing the transport of containers on low-bed trailers, following concerns about containers being moved without adequate securing mechanisms.
During parliamentary proceedings, Bright Asamoah Brefo, MP for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, said unsecured containers posed a national safety concern for motorists, public-transport passengers and people working along roadsides. He argued that failures by some transport operators to secure loads had exposed road users to preventable danger.
Mr Brefo referred to Regulation 52 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), which requires loads carried by vehicles to be bound, protected and packed so that they do not slide, shift, spill, roll or fall while a vehicle is moving.
He said a breach of the regulation is an offence that can attract a fine, imprisonment or both, and called for the existing rules to be enforced.
Peter Lanchene Toobu, MP for Wa West, questioned why container trucks could travel from Tema or Takoradi through multiple checkpoints without officials ensuring that safety requirements had been met. He said checks should begin where containers are loaded, before vehicles are permitted to enter the road network.
Fred Agbenyo, MP for Guan, also called for stricter application of axle-load limits and mandatory inspections before haulage vehicles begin journeys. He said inspections should cover vehicle condition, tyres and the fitness of drivers.
Mr Agbenyo raised particular concerns about the condition of tyres on some haulage vehicles, saying worn tyres could add to road-safety risks.
The MPs called on the Ghana Police Service, transport authorities and other relevant agencies to improve monitoring and enforce applicable regulations. Their interventions focused on preventing accidents and disruption associated with container-related incidents on Ghana’s roads.
