The Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba has cautioned the public to be wary of fake, fraudulent electronic traffic violation notices and SMS scams demanding money using the traffic tech system which test run ended last year and now awaiting full implementation.
Mr Amaliba made the call during an interview with 3news.com while on a visit to the Upper East Region as part of efforts to strengthen the operational framework of the Authority and explore new mechanisms of further reducing the road crashes in region.
The traffic tech system in Ghana is an automated road traffic enforcement initiative launched by the Ghana Police Service in collaboration with the National Road Safety Authority and the Ministry of Transport. The system replaces manual police roadblocks with automated digital monitoring to reduce crashes and fatalities.
With the full implementation of the tech system, digital cameras and sensors will be programmed to catch up to 46 different road traffic violations, primarily focusing on, speeding, jumping red lights, reckless driving penalties. Drivers will no longer be stopped by police officers on highways for detected offenses.
Penalties and offense details are sent directly to the vehicle owner via Short Message Service (SMS) .
“Traffic tech is not churning out text messages to prospective road users who are in default. No, we have done that test run a long time ago. So, what you are seeing here is scammers taking advantage of traffic tech, sending messages wanting to take money from people, so ignore all those messages.
That’s not coming from traffic tech. Traffic tech at this point, we are trying to do some education and sensitization. Traffic tech would come into full force next year so ignore those text messages. They are coming from scammers and not from the traffic tech system”, Abraham Amalba said.
The Upper East Regional directorate of the National Road Safety Authority from January to May 2026, has recorded a total of 28 deaths, and 23 injuries through 39 road crashes and has described this development as due to the positive impacts of its effective sensitization and advocacy as compared to figures recorded last year in this period.
Mr. Abraham Amaliba said the reduction of road crash and casualty situation in Ghana is as a result of enough funds being released to the Authority to undertake its functions and responsibilities.
He promised that the Authority will ensure the roads are accident free and very low cases of road crashes and deaths.
The Upper East Regional Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga expressed satisfaction in the activities of the NRSA in the region. He said the Authority is working hard to reduce road crashes through its activities and constant coordination with the Regional Coordinating Council.
Mr Donatus Akamugri Atanga has therefore pledged his readiness to advocate for the need for residents to obey traffic regulations and be safe for national development.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, Roland Atanga Ayoo, disclosed how market women have converted the pedestrian walkway and vehicle parking lot in front of the inter-city transport station which violets traffic regulations and operations thus denying vehicles and pedestrians use of the space.
The Upper East Regional Director of National Road Safety Authority, Eric Anokye Fordjour reiterated the importance of road sensitization and advocacy which the Authority in the region is actively undertaking towards achieving a productive society without many lives being lost as a result of road crashes.
Mr. Eric Anokye Fordjour commended all stakeholders like the Regional Coordinating Council, GPRTU, Urban Roads Department, Ghana Highways Authority, Ghana Police Service, DVLA, MMDCEs, the media and general public for their support in road safety issues in the Upper East Region.
Mr Amaliba and his team later inspected hot spots along the Bolgatanga-Navrongo highway which is taking lives of residents of Sumbrungu and its environs.
Residents of Sumbrungu through their spokesperson, Albert Adongo, has expressed deep worry on how dangerous the highway is and needs immediate speed ramps to reduce the over speeding of vehicles, especially heavy trucks en route to the Paga Border.
According to Albert Adongo, a petition was sent to the Roads and Highways Authority in Accra and the NRSA on the concerns of communities along the highway.
Abraham Amaliba assured the residents of Sumbrungu and its environs of reducing the speed limits of vehicles on the highway after the ongoing assessment by the Ghana Highways Authority is done.
By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu
