Expert advocates three-year driving training to reduce road crashes

Transport Systems Expert Kofi Asante has urged the government to consider mandatory three-year training for prospective drivers in a bid to reduce road crashes in Ghana. Asante believes that current regulations have loopholes that weaken the country's road safety efforts. He highlighted the surge in road crashes and fatalities, noting that 14,000 crashes and 2,949 deaths occurred in 2025, more than the number of COVID-19 fatalities in Ghana.

Asante also pointed out that the nation spent more on COVID-19 response than on road safety campaigns. He recalled a 2017 attempt to introduce a mandatory towing levy, which was withdrawn due to public opposition despite its potential to reduce accidents. On Nnnawotwe Yi on Adom TV, Asante suggested legislation requiring drivers to undergo formal driving training for at least three years before obtaining a license.

He emphasized that many drivers acquire licenses without proper training, leading to inadequate knowledge of vehicle handling during emergencies and traffic laws. These shortcomings, combined with poor driving practices and increased vehicle wear, pose ongoing risks to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, contributing to Ghana's high road crash rates.