Did you know that motorists are supposed to stop at zebra crossings to allow pedestrians to cross with ease?
But in Tamale, the Northern regional capital and in many other cities and towns across Ghana, zebra crossings have lost their meaning, as many motorists speed past without care.
Motorists in Tamale continue to ignore these zebra crossings, forcing pedestrians including schoolchildren and the elderly to risk their lives while crossing busy roads.
According to the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), a driver who fails to give way to a pedestrian at a zebra crossing commits an offence and is liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine.
Despite the clear traffic laws, compliance remains low, raising questions about road safety awareness and enforcement in Tamale and other parts of the country.
At the zebra crossing near the Tamale Taxi Rank, people wait patiently, but vehicles rarely stop. For many pedestrians, crossing the road in Tamale is a daily struggle a gamble between life and death.
Rawda Alidu is a student of the Northern School of Business. She spends several minutes waiting to cross at the zebra crossing. She hopes authorities will intensify education for drivers and riders to obey road signs.
But while pedestrians blame drivers, some motorists argue that the fault lies with poor markings and lack of education.
Yakubu Moses, a commercial driver, believes that many ignore the rule due to a lack of awareness and faded road markings. He stressed the need for both drivers and pedestrians to understand and respect traffic signs to prevent accidents.
Superintendent Richard Odartey, the Northern Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), says intensified public education is needed for all road users drivers, riders, and pedestrians to ensure safety and compliance.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility. If every road user does the right thing, accidents will reduce to the barest minimum,” he said.
He further cautioned that ignoring zebra crossings is a serious traffic offence. According to him, any driver who approaches a zebra crossing and sees a pedestrian about to cross is legally required to stop.
“Even though pedestrians have the right of way, they must still be cautious and observe before stepping onto the line,” Superintendent Odartey added.
Offenders face penalties ranging from five to 250 penalty units, equivalent to GH₵60 to GH₵3,000, or a prison term of one day to nine months, depending on the gravity of
Offenses.
The Northern Regional Director of the National Road Safety Authority, Abdulai Bawa Ghamsah, maintains that Tamale has good pedestrian facilities such as zebra crossings, but many have been taken over by hawkers, riders, and beggars.
He noted that although zebra crossings exist across the city, most of them are faded and poorly maintained and even where they are visible, many motorists still refuse to stop.
“That is indiscipline and recklessness,” he said, adding that the Road Traffic Act frowns on such behaviour.
In the first half of 2025, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reported 1,301 pedestrian knockdowns across the country. The figure represents a 6.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Drivers, pedestrians, and authorities alike, must work together to respect traffic rules and create safer streets for all.
Nearly 2,000 deaths recorded in over 9k accidents between January & August 2025 – NRSA
By Nadra Mohammed
