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Ghana traffic offences and fines (2026)
42 offences under the Road Traffic Regulations 2026 (L.I. 2519) and the Road Traffic Act, with amounts in cedis.
Speed and signals
| Offence | Fine | Jail |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding L.I. 2519 Reg 212 · camera-enforced now Camera fines reported between GH¢120 and GH¢480 depending on how far over; official km/h bands not yet published. | GH¢120 – GH¢300 | Up to 30 days, or both |
| Street or drag racing Reg 221 | GH¢120 – GH¢300 | Up to 30 days, or both |
| Not slowing down in dangerous conditions Reg 213 | GH¢600 – GH¢1,200 | 3 to 6 months, or both |
| Running a red light Reg 222(7)–(8) · camera enforcement planned | GH¢120 – GH¢360 | Up to 30 days, or both |
| Not stopping at a STOP or YIELD sign Reg 222(1)–(6) | GH¢120 – GH¢360 | Up to 30 days, or both |
| Railway level-crossing breach Reg 223 | GH¢60 – GH¢300 | Up to 30 days |
| Disobeying a traffic officer or signal Reg 226(3) | GH¢120 – GH¢300 | Up to 30 days |
| Overtaking at a pedestrian crossing Reg 224 · camera enforcement planned | GH¢120 – GH¢300 | Up to 30 days |
| Driving on the shoulder or blocking a junction L.I. 2519 (number not published) | GH¢120 – GH¢360 | Up to 30 days |
Driver behaviour
| Offence | Fine | Jail |
|---|---|---|
| Holding a phone while driving Reg 132 Hands-free and Bluetooth calls are allowed. | Up to GH¢600 | Up to 3 months, or both |
| Dashboard TV on while moving Reg 237(2) | Up to GH¢300 | Up to 30 days, or both |
| Drink or drug driving (limit 0.05%) Reg 131; Act 1153 Act 683 s.5 lists 500–2,000 PU and up to 5 years; sources conflict. | GH¢600 – GH¢2,400 | Up to 40 months, or both |
| Refusing a breath test Act 683 s.7(1) | Up to GH¢6,000 | Up to 2 years, or both |
| Dangerous driving (no or minor injury) Act 683 s.1(1)(a) | GH¢1,200 – GH¢2,400 | Up to 9 months, or both |
| Dangerous driving causing serious injury Act 683 s.1(1)(b) | GH¢3,000 – GH¢6,000 | 1 to 2 years, or both |
| Dangerous driving causing death Act 683 s.1(1)(c) | Amount not published | At least 3 years; licence withdrawn 3–5 years |
Seatbelts and children
| Offence | Fine | Jail |
|---|---|---|
| Not wearing a seatbelt Reg 144 · camera enforcement planned | GH¢120 – GH¢600 | Up to 8 months, or both |
| Child in the front seat Act 1153 Children under 12 (or under 145 cm and 36 kg) must not ride in front; under-18s must wear seatbelts. Fine not published. | Amount not published | — |
Vehicle condition
| Offence | Fine | Jail |
|---|---|---|
| Tinted front windscreen Reg 92 | GH¢300 – GH¢600 | 1 to 3 months, or both |
| Worn or unsafe tyres Reg 87 | GH¢300 – GH¢600 | 30 days to 3 months, or both |
| No warning triangle Reg 108 | GH¢300 – GH¢600 | 30 days to 3 months, or both |
| No fire extinguisher or first-aid kit Reg 94 | GH¢120 – GH¢300 | Up to 30 days, or both |
| Overloading Reg 118 | GH¢300 – GH¢600 | Up to 3 months, or both |
Licence, insurance, plates
| Offence | Fine | Jail |
|---|---|---|
| Driving without a licence Act 683 s.53(2) · camera enforcement planned | Up to GH¢3,000 | Up to 12 months, or both |
| Driving while disqualified Act 683 s.67 | Up to GH¢6,000 | Up to 2 years, or both |
| Uninsured vehicle Third Party Insurance Act 1958, s.3(2) · camera enforcement planned | Up to GH¢3,000 | Up to 1 year, or both, plus at least 12 months’ disqualification |
| Unregistered vehicle Act 683 s.41(1) | Up to GH¢3,000 | Up to 12 months, or both |
| No number plate fixed Act 683 s.43 | Up to GH¢6,000 | Up to 2 years, or both |
| Obscured number plate Act 683 s.44 | Up to GH¢1,200 | Up to 6 months, or both |
| Expired roadworthy certificate Not published · camera enforcement planned Listed for future camera enforcement; penalty amount not found. | Amount not published | — |
Motorbikes and okada
| Offence | Fine | Jail |
|---|---|---|
| No helmet or reflective clothing Reg 109 The motorbike may be impounded. | GH¢300 – GH¢600 | 1 to 3 months, or both |
| Unauthorised commercial okada (operator) L.I. 2519 | GH¢600 – GH¢1,200 | 8 to 24 months, or both |
| Unauthorised commercial okada (rider) L.I. 2519 | GH¢300 – GH¢600 | Up to 8 months, or both |
| Siren, beacon or strobe misuse Regs 65 and 74 (cited July 2026) · camera enforcement planned Vehicles are being stopped and impounded; amount not published. | Amount not published | — |
Buses and taxis
| Offence | Fine | Jail |
|---|---|---|
| Overcharging passengers Reg 180 | GH¢120 – GH¢300 | Up to 30 days, or both |
| Bus or taxi stopping outside designated areas Reg 231(4) | GH¢120 – GH¢300 | Up to 30 days, or both |
| Preaching or hawking on a moving vehicle Reg 141 | GH¢120 – GH¢600 | Up to 8 months |
Parking and accidents
| Offence | Fine | Jail |
|---|---|---|
| Illegal or double parking, parking on the shoulder Reg 235 | GH¢120 – GH¢300 | Up to 30 days |
| Parking in a disability bay Reg 228(3) | Up to GH¢300 | Up to 8 months, or both |
| Driving through a procession Reg 230(3) | GH¢120 – GH¢300 | Up to 30 days |
| Not stopping or reporting after an accident Act 683 s.124(4) Report to police within 24 hours in towns, 24–48 hours elsewhere. | Up to GH¢3,000 | Up to 12 months, or both |
| Any other offence (horn misuse, littering, lane indiscipline) Reg 243 general penalty | GH¢120 – GH¢600 | Up to 8 months, or both |
What the law allows and doesn’t allow
✗ Not allowed: Paying an officer cash for a camera fine
Camera fines are paid only on official channels (ghana.gov.gh, the NIB portal or the official short codes). Never pay cash or a personal MoMo number.
✓ Allowed: Spot fines, in narrow cases
Only an officer of Inspector rank or above, for an offence seen in their presence, where the regulations set a fine (Act 683 s.118). If you deny the offence, it goes to court.
✓ Allowed: Being fined without being stopped
Cameras send an Electronic Notice of Violation by SMS from GPS-MTTD to the registered owner.
✓ Allowed: Hands-free and Bluetooth calls
Allowed. Holding or handling the phone while driving is an offence (police clarification, Oct 2026).
✓ Allowed: Earphones
Not banned by L.I. 2519, according to police responses to a false flyer.
✓ Allowed: Filming police at a stop
Reported as allowed; stay calm and do not obstruct the officer.
✓ Allowed: 14 days to pay or contest
After 14 days, 1% of the fine is added every day.
✗ Not allowed: Contesting after paying
Paying settles the case. View the evidence on the NIB portal first.
✗ Not allowed: Renewing at DVLA with unpaid fines
DVLA withholds licence renewal, registration, transfer and roadworthy tests until fines are cleared. Check with *220#.
✓ Allowed: Police detaining or removing vehicles
Police may detain commercial vehicles for checks, remove dangerous vehicles and impound helmetless motorbikes. Unattended vehicles may be removed and sold (Act 1153).
✗ Not allowed: Any tint on the front windscreen
Not allowed. Side and rear windows are reported to need at least 70% light through.
✗ Not allowed: Driving over 0.05% blood alcohol
The limit was lowered from 0.08% by Act 1153.
✗ Not allowed: “There was no speed sign” as a defence
Default limits apply: 30 km/h near schools and markets, 50 built-up, 90 open road, 100 motorway.
✓ Allowed: Commercial drivers from age 21
Act 1153 lowered the minimum age from 25.
✗ Not allowed: Leaving an accident without reporting
Stop, give your name and address, and report to police within 24 hours in towns (24–48 hours elsewhere).
Frequently asked questions
What is the fine for speeding in Ghana?
Reg 212 of the Road Traffic Regulations 2026 sets 10–25 penalty units (GH¢120–GH¢300), up to 30 days in jail, or both. Reported camera fines range from GH¢120 to GH¢480 depending on how far over the limit.
What is the fine for not wearing a seatbelt in Ghana?
10–50 penalty units (GH¢120–GH¢600), up to 8 months in jail, or both (Reg 144).
How much is one penalty unit in Ghana?
GH¢12, according to the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Is using a phone while driving illegal in Ghana?
Holding or handling a phone is an offence (up to 50 penalty units, up to 3 months). Hands-free and Bluetooth calls are allowed.
What is the drink-driving limit in Ghana?
0.05% blood alcohol, lowered from 0.08% by the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1153).
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Last checked 2026-11-07. Traffic GH is an independent app and website. It is not affiliated with the Ghana Police Service, MTTD, TRAFFITECH-GH, DVLA, NIB or NIC.