Cameras to Replace Police in Traffic Enforcement: What Drivers Need to Know

Motorists across Ghana are set to experience a major change in how traffic offences are detected and enforced, with cameras and other digital technologies expected to replace routine roadside checks by Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) personnel from September 2026.

The new system will use digital devices to detect and enforce more than 47 road traffic offences, according to the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak.

The Minister announced the development during a press briefing in Accra on Monday, August 24, 2026, as part of the government’s efforts to modernize traffic enforcement and reduce direct contact between motorists and police officers.

How Ghana’s New Traffic Camera System Will Work

Under the new system, MTTD personnel will use a combination of cameras and digital devices to capture traffic violations. The technologies will include face cameras, mobile cameras, in-vehicle cameras, handheld devices, and radar systems.

When a suspected violation is captured, the footage will not immediately result in a penalty. Instead, police personnel at a central back-office control room will review the footage and verify the offence.

Once the violation has been confirmed, the offender will receive an electronic notice on their phone. The notification will provide details of the offence, the applicable penalty, and instructions on how to make payment.

The system is expected to make it possible to detect traffic offences without an officer having to stop the motorist physically.

One of the most significant changes will be the end of routine roadside checks for traffic offences covered by the digital system. According to Muntaka, police officers will no longer routinely stop motorists simply to inspect their driving licences physically.

Motorists will also no longer be routinely pulled over for officers to manually check requirements such as seatbelt use and insurance, where these offences are covered by the new digital enforcement system.

The Minister explained that motorists could instead receive electronic notifications when an offence involving their vehicle has already been captured.

This means the introduction of the system will shift traffic enforcement away from regular physical checks towards camera-based detection and centralized verification.

Why Ghana Is Moving to Digital Traffic Enforcement

The government says the move is aimed at improving the efficiency of traffic enforcement while reducing unnecessary face-to-face interaction between police officers and motorists.

The reform also comes amid concerns about corruption within some sections of the Police Service.

Muntaka was responding to questions about recent Ghana Statistical Service data, which ranked the MTTD, general duty police officers, and the Criminal Investigation Department among units the public perceived as having higher levels of corruption.

According to the Minister, removing routine roadside interaction could reduce opportunities for motorists and officers to negotiate their way out of prosecution.

He referred to situations in which small informal payments, including GH¢5 or GH¢10, could allegedly be used by some motorists to avoid prosecution for traffic offences.

Under the digital system, the government expects violations to be captured, reviewed, and processed through a more structured system rather than being resolved through roadside interactions.

Muntaka also linked the initiative to the Ministry’s wider digitalization program, saying the use of technology had helped close administrative loopholes and improve revenue collection in other government services.

What Drivers Need to Know

The introduction of Ghana’s traffic camera system does not mean motorists will no longer be subject to traffic laws or enforcement. Instead, the enforcement method will change.

Drivers have to remain compliant with road traffic regulations because violations can be detected without a police officer physically stopping the vehicle.

Motorists should also pay attention to electronic notifications relating to traffic offences and ensure they understand the applicable payment and review procedures.

The system’s effectiveness, however, will depend on accurate camera detection, proper verification of recorded offences and reliable electronic communication with motorists.

A clear process for motorists to challenge incorrect or disputed violations will also be important as the system becomes operational.

Part of a Wider Digital Reform

The traffic enforcement program forms part of a wider digital transformation agenda being implemented by the Ministry of the Interior. Muntaka also announced that an automated fire safety compliance system would begin rolling out by the end of August 2026.

In addition, a National Crime Automated Biometric Identification System is being introduced and is expected to reach 751 centers across Ghana by the end of 2026.

The initiatives are intended to use technology to improve public safety, enforcement, service delivery, and accountability. From September 2026, Ghana’s traffic enforcement system is expected to move significantly towards technology-driven monitoring.

For motorists, the change means that a police officer may no longer need to be standing by the roadside to detect a traffic violation. Cameras and other digital devices could capture the offence, while police personnel review the evidence remotely before an electronic notice is issued.

The government’s expectation is that the system will improve enforcement, reduce roadside corruption, and make traffic management more efficient.

For drivers, the message is simple: the shift from roadside checks to digital enforcement does not reduce the need to obey traffic laws—it changes how violations are detected and enforced.

Source: Graphic Online, based on remarks by Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak at the Government Accountability Series press briefing in Accra on August 24, 2026.

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