The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has announced plans to introduce a mandatory towing subscription scheme for all vehicle owners as part of sweeping reforms to enhance road safety and reduce congestion on Ghana’s roads.
According to the Managing Director of the NRSA, Abraham Amaliba, the proposal will be embedded in a new Legislative Instrument (L.I.) currently being developed, which also includes provisions for the legalization of commercial motorbike operations (Okada).
Speaking in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Mr. Amaliba said the new system is designed to address the persistent problem of broken-down vehicles being abandoned on major highways, often resulting in dangerous traffic disruptions and increased accident risk, particularly during peak travel hours.
“The earlier towing policy had issues with monopoly in the fee collection process,” he noted. “But under this new arrangement, once the L.I. is passed, every vehicle owner will be required to subscribe to a certified towing service provider or insurer as a condition of operating their vehicle on public roads.”
The NRSA will accredit a pool of qualified towing companies, from which road users can freely select a service provider. This is intended to ensure competition, improve service delivery, and eliminate concerns about exclusive control previously associated with the now-defunct towing levy proposal.
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Mr. Amaliba emphasized that non-compliance will attract penalties, with the NRSA stepping in to remove stranded vehicles and subsequently billing the vehicle owner for the service.
“This new regulation will create a responsive system where drivers in distress can contact their subscribed towing service for immediate assistance, reducing the number of abandoned vehicles on our roads,” he explained. “When enforced, we believe it will significantly improve the safety and reliability of our road network.”
The L.I. is expected to be presented to Parliament for consideration in the coming months. Road safety campaigners have long called for a more structured and accountable towing framework, particularly in light of Ghana’s rising motorization rate and road traffic challenges.
The NRSA’s dual policy move—mandating towing subscriptions while formalizing Okada operations—marks a significant step toward strengthening enforcement, improving transport sector regulation, and enhancing commuter safety nationwide.
