Members of Parliament have raised concerns over the increasing practice of transporting containers on low-bed trailers without proper securing mechanisms, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to lives and road safety.
The lawmakers said unsecured containers falling from trucks on major highways have resulted in avoidable accidents, traffic congestion, road damage, and the loss of lives.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the Member of Parliament for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, Bright Asamoah Brefo, described the situation as a national safety concern, arguing that innocent commuters and roadside traders continue to bear the consequences of negligence by some transport operators.
“Our citizens are being buried in their cars. Innocent families, commuters in trotros, and roadside traders are being flattened into oblivion by falling steel boxes because a driver or a transport owner wanted to save five minutes at the ports,” he said.
The MP cited Regulation 52 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), which requires that loads transported on vehicles must be securely bound, protected, and packed in a way that prevents them from sliding, shifting, spilling, rolling, or falling off while the vehicle is in motion.
He stressed that failure to enforce existing regulations has contributed to preventable deaths on the roads.
“Anyone who contravenes the said regulation commits an offence punishable by imprisonment, a fine, or both. Mr Speaker, we cannot sit in this august House, pass laws, and watch our citizens perish due to a blatant lack of enforcement,” he added.
The Wa West MP, Peter Lanchene Toobu, questioned why trucks carrying containers from ports continue to move through several checkpoints without authorities ensuring that safety requirements are met before they are allowed onto highways.
“Why will you have a low bed and an articulated truck loading a container from the Tema Harbour or Takoradi Harbour, moving through various checkpoints—be they police, immigration, customs, axle weight—you can count them, to the point that people cannot see what is right and insist that the right thing must be done?” he questioned.
He said safety checks must begin at the point of loading, insisting that containers should only be allowed onto the road after they have been properly secured.
“Right at the loading point, what is supposed to be done must be done before the vehicles are allowed to move,” he said.
The Guan MP, Fred Agbenyo, also called for stricter enforcement of axle load limits, mandatory pre-trip inspections, and improved maintenance of haulage vehicles.
He said authorities must ensure that trucks are inspected before they begin journeys, including checks on the condition of tyres and the fitness of drivers.
“There should be a strict enforcement of axle loading limits. Mandatory pre-trip vehicle inspections, that before any vehicle moves from the station, somebody ought to go in there and inspect the vehicles, inspect the tyres, and make sure that the driver is in good condition before they start plying the road,” he said.
Agbenyo further raised concerns about the poor condition of some haulage vehicles operating on Ghana’s roads, particularly worn-out tyres that increase the risk of accidents.
“Most of these vehicles, when you get close to them, most of the tyres are even worn out. In some cases, there are two tyres at the back, the inside ones are worn out, while the outside ones look good, and then they start plying the road,” he added.
The MPs are calling on the Ghana Police Service, transport authorities, and other relevant agencies to strengthen monitoring and enforce road safety regulations to prevent further loss of lives through container-related accidents.
