The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has announced plans to introduce tougher sanctions against vehicle overloading, including
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has announced plans to introduce tougher sanctions against vehicle overloading, including the forfeiture and auctioning of excess cargo, as part of efforts to protect Ghana’s road infrastructure and enhance road safety.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, January 28, Mr Agbodza said the current system for handling overloaded vehicles has proven ineffective and costly to the country.
“Currently, when a vehicle is overloaded, we stop it and ask the driver to offload the excess goods and use another vehicle to convey them. That is not working,” he stated.
He explained that the practice often leaves trucks — particularly those from Burkina Faso and other neighbouring countries — stranded on highways for weeks, worsening congestion and placing additional strain on already stressed roads.
To address the problem, the minister disclosed that the government is preparing amendments to Legislative Instrument (LI) 2180 to impose stiffer penalties aimed at deterring habitual offenders.
Under the proposed changes, any excess goods found on overloaded vehicles will be confiscated and auctioned, with proceeds channelled into the Road Maintenance Trust Fund.
“The new policy we want to include in LI 2180 is that once you are arrested for overloading, the excess portion of the goods will be forfeited, auctioned, and the proceeds paid into the Road Maintenance Trust Fund,” Mr Agbodza explained.
He expressed confidence that the financial consequences, combined with the loss of cargo, would compel transport operators to comply with axle load limits.
“We believe these measures will be strong enough deterrents to make people think twice before overloading our roads,” he added.
The minister also observed that the scale of vehicle overloading in Ghana is unusually high compared to other countries in the sub-region, underscoring the need for urgent reforms.
“In the sub-region, I don’t think overloading the way it happens in Ghana occurs anywhere else,” he noted.
Vehicle overloading remains one of the leading causes of premature road deterioration, rising maintenance costs, and traffic accidents nationwide.
The proposed amendments form part of broader government efforts to preserve road networks and improve transport safety across the country.
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