Ghana’s road safety ecosystem has gained recognition as one of the most exemplary in Africa and a valuable model for other nations on the continent. The Deputy Minister for Land and Rail Transport of Liberia, Darious Kollie, along with a team of technical experts, recently visited the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in Accra. During the visit, Kollie commended Ghana’s efforts in reducing road traffic fatalities, which currently stand at around 2,000 per year, and called for Ghana to share its road safety expertise with other African countries. The Liberian Road Safety Secretariat, in the process of upgrading to an authority, is aimed to replicate Ghana’s successful road safety practices.
Highlighting the positive road safety management system in Ghana, Kollie emphasized that Ghana was chosen due to its track record in the African continent. The delegation’s itinerary included visits to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), the Ministry of Transport, as well as key institutions such as the DVLA. They aimed to study various policies and programs related to driver licensing and certification, vehicle registration, digitization efforts, customer service, and regulatory frameworks.
Strengthening Cross-Border Collaborations
Kwasi Agyeman Busia, CEO of the DVLA, expressed the significance of the Liberian delegation’s visit and collaboration and knowledge sharing among related institutions, particularly as the African continent continues to address development challenges. He stressed that engagement and the exchange of ideas and best practices are essential for ensuring the sustainability of the road safety sector. Such cross-border collaborations, he added, will enable African countries to establish robust road safety regimes, effectively preventing road crashes across the continent.
David Osafo Adonteng, Director-General of the NRSA, acknowledged the pivotal role played by the DVLA in road safety. He emphasized that the DVLA effectively manages the two critical aspects of road safety: drivers and vehicle quality. Adonteng highlighted the need to strengthen collaboration among institutions within the transport sector, both at local and regional levels. With over three million vehicles on the road and a constantly evolving road landscape, he highlighted the importance of all stakeholders adopting modern technologies to ensure road safety.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.25 million people die each year due to road traffic crashes, with road traffic injuries being the leading cause of death among individuals aged 15 to 29. Moreover, low and middle-income countries account for 90% of the world’s road traffic fatalities, despite having only 54% of the world’s vehicles. These figures emphasize the urgency of concerted efforts to address road safety and the need for sustained action to achieve the global goal of halving road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030, as outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
