The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has announced that from 2026, vehicle owners will be required to remove broken-down vehicles from intercity roads and highways within a stipulated time or face sanctions.

According to the Executive Director of the NRSA, Abraham Amaliba, the new requirement is captured in the recently passed Road Traffic Amendment Bill.

The directive follows growing concerns from road users about the dangers posed by abandoned or stationary vehicles, which authorities say have become a major contributor to road crashes across the country.

Speaking to Accra-based Channel One TV, he explained that the law mandates vehicle owners to tow broken-down vehicles off the road within 30 minutes if the vehicle breaks down in a city centre, and within one hour if the incident occurs on a highway.

Mr Amaliba noted that under the new regime, every vehicle owner will be required to subscribe to a towing service to ensure the swift removal of faulty vehicles from major roads.

“Stationary vehicles are also a major cause of accidents. Under the new law, which takes effect next year, every vehicle owner must subscribe to a towing company. Once your car breaks down in the city centre, you have 30 minutes to call a towing company,” he said.

He clarified that vehicle owners are not restricted to a single towing company, adding that insurance companies are also permitted to provide towing services under the law.

“If it happens on the highway, you have up to one hour to call your towing company. If you fail to do so, the National Road Safety Authority will move in to remove the stationary vehicle and surcharge the owner for the cost of removal,” Mr Amaliba said.

He described the new measures as part of efforts to enhance road safety and significantly reduce preventable crashes caused by abandoned vehicles on major roads.