NRSA launches 25th anniversary and road safety awards

The 25th anniversary of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has been launched with an avowed commitment to adopt innovation, data-driven strategies, and strict enforcement of regulations to promote a robust road safety ecosystem.

The Director-General of the NRSA, David Osafo Adonteng, who gave that assurance, said having evolved from a humble beginning to become a central pillar in promoting road safety over the past 25 years, the NRSA was focused on strengthening partnerships with other stakeholders to consolidate the gains and enhance the country’s chances of halving road crashes by 2030 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Road safety is about building a culture of care and responsibility that spans generations and as we reflect on our achievements, we also recommit ourselves to deepening our efforts in the years ahead.

"Road safety challenges are ever-present, but we stand ready to face them with renewed energy, modern solutions, and dedication to making our roads safe for all to use," he stressed.

The silver jubilee of the NRSA was launched on the theme: "Celebrating 25 years of promoting road safety and awarding excellence".

It brought together stakeholders in the road transport sector such as the Ministry of Transport, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Ghana Private Road 

Transport Union (GPRTU), the Motor Traffic and Transport Division (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service and civil society organisations (CSOs).

At the same event, the NRSA Road Safety Awards was launched to celebrate stakeholders who have contributed in diverse ways towards promoting road safety over the years. 

The awards have categories for drivers, transport operators, the media and other road safety champions. 

Mr Adonteng explained that the silver jubilee celebration would be made up of key activities such as health walks, health screening, awards ceremony, and road safety campaigns targeted at giving more attention to the operations of the NRSA. 

The NRSA boss said although some considerable gains had been made in reducing road crashes and fatalities in recent times, the authority would not let it act down.

“As we move into the future, the NRSA will continue to focus on innovation, data-driven strategies and enforcement of road safety standards; and we are confident that with the support of other stakeholders, we will make our roads safer,” he said.

He stressed that going forward, the authority would leverage the potential of technology and strategic collaboration with both state and private sector players to promote road safety and save lives.

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Transport, Mabel Sagoe, commended the NRSA for spearheading road safety initiatives over the past 25 years. 

Among other things, she said initiatives such as "Arrive Alive", "Stay Alive", and Operation Police Action against Rider Indiscipline (PAARI) had been impactful in bringing down road crashes and needed to be sustained. 

Mrs Sagoe observed that the silver jubilee celebration was a call on the NRSA to rise above challenges in the road sector and implement policies that would make the country’s road ecosystem safe for road users. 

Established in 1999, the NRSA, which started as the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) through the NRSC Act, 1999 (Act 567), has been ensuring road safety and protecting lives.

However, the passage of the NRSA Act, 2019 (Act 993), in 2019, repealed Act 567 and gave the Commission an authority status.

Act 993 gave the NRSA the mandate to develop and promote road safety, coordinate and regulate activities, procedures and standards related to road safety, and provide for related matters.