The Northern Regional Director of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abdulai Bawa Ghamsah, has expressed deep concern over the persistent refusal of motorists to wear proper crash helmets, despite their proven role in saving lives and reducing road fatalities.
Speaking at a capacity-building training programme for journalists and news editors in Tamale on September 3, on speed management and helmet standards, Mr. Ghamsah noted that the region faces a peculiar challenge when it comes to helmet use.
According to him, many riders only wear helmets when they spot law enforcement officers, despite being fully aware of the benefits.
“Saying people are not educated on the use of helmets is not accurate. There has been extensive education, but people still fail to safeguard themselves,” he said.
“Those who use helmets often rely on inferior ones supplied with motorcycles, instead of standard factory-approved helmets. This has also encouraged dealers to import substandard helmets into the country.”
Mr. Ghamsah stressed that the introduction and enforcement of standards for crash helmets will help regulate importation and ensure only quality helmets are available on the market, ultimately saving lives.
On his part, Enock Jengre, Programme Officer Legal Resources Centre, described the rising number of daily road deaths as alarming, calling for urgent action.
He urged the government to devote the same level of resources and urgency used in the fight against COVID-19 to the road safety campaign.
“When you compare the resources pumped into the fight against COVID-19 with the deaths recorded on our roads, it is clear we need to set our priorities right,” he said.
Mr. Jengre further lamented that travelling on Ghana’s highways, such as the Kumasi–Accra stretch, often feels more like a prayer session than a restful journey, and called for a concerted national effort to tackle road safety.
Source: https://channelonenewsonline.com/2025/09/08/n-r-nrsa-raises-alarm-over-non-use-of-helmets/
