Commercial Drivers Now Require Operating License- Highlights Road Traffic Regulations Set to Take Effect on March 25

From March 25, 2026, commercial drivers will be issued an operating license to operate across the country.

This will need renewal annually, per the new Road Traffic Regulations, 2026.

The regulation also enjoins commercial drivers to join a registered union which has at least 20 members with offices in all 16 regions.

Without this, no commercial driver can operate.

The regulation further commercialises okada operations, with individuals involved in these services obliged to belong to a registered entity with offices in all 16 regions.

Also, under these new regulations, it’s an offence to use a ‘take me home’ tyre under your car, as users will be liable to a fine or imprisonment for not more than six (6) months.

With regard to broken-down vehicles, the new regulations direct vehicle owners to tow their vehicles from the road between 30 minutes and one hour or risk having it towed away by the National Road Safety Authority. In such a situation, the owner will have to pay for all costs associated with the towing, in addition to penalty fees, before the release of the vehicle.

The regulation also reserves the right to use sirens and security flashlights only for the president and their convoy, all the security services, Bullion vans and Ambulances / Hearses.

The law also restrains drivers from handing over their license to a police officer and instead provides the license number, so that the officer can use a new digital platform, which is linked with the DVLA, to run a background check on the driver.

In a Facebook post, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Swedru, called for enhanced public sensitisation on the new regulations.

“The new Road Traffic Regulations, 2026, which are currently before parliament and will come into force after March 25th, contain almost new rules and sanction regimes for road traffic offenders. I wish the Government, through the DVLA and the MTTD, would organise a public education and sensitisation for the Ghanaian.”

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