General News
GBA Petitions Chief Justice to Stop Compelling Lawyers to Appear During Legal Vacation
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has petitioned Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to ensure that the established rules and traditions governing Ghana’s legal vacation are respected, particularly in cases where lawyers have indicated that they are unavailable to appear in court.
In a letter dated August 10, 2026, and signed by GBA National President Mrs Efua Ghartey, the Association raised concerns over notices served on lawyers requiring them to appear before specific judges to continue part-heard criminal cases during the legal vacation.
The GBA said the concerns followed petitions brought to its attention by Zoe, Akyea & Co., Dame & Partners, and Sam Okudzeto & Associates, whose lawyers expressed displeasure over the notices issued pursuant to warrants authorising particular judges to continue hearing the cases during the vacation.
The Association referred to Order 79, Rule 4 of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (C.I. 47), which provides for three annual court vacations.
According to the GBA, Rule 4(b) provides that the second and longest vacation in the legal year runs from August 1 to September 30.
The Association explained that the purpose of the vacation is to give lawyers, judges and judicial staff a deserved period of rest after the rigorous court schedule, particularly following the second term, which is the longest term of the legal year.
The GBA’s intervention also comes after the Judiciary’s celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court Ordinance of 1876, which the Association said ran from April 16 to July 31, 2026. The Bar congratulated the Chief Justice and the Judiciary on the anniversary celebrations.
The GBA acknowledged that, over the years, the Judiciary, with the consent of other stakeholders, has designated certain courts as Vacation Courts to deal with emergencies that arise during the vacation.
However, it stressed that such courts have traditionally been limited to urgent and interlocutory matters and not trials.
The Association noted that the same principle applies to Virtual Courts operating during the vacation, saying they also do not conduct trials.
A major concern raised by the GBA is the availability of counsel.
The Association said the overriding consideration in matters brought before a Vacation Court has traditionally been the willingness and availability of counsel to appear.
It argued that lawyers are not under any compulsion to appear before a Vacation Court if they have indicated that they are unavailable during the vacation.
According to the GBA, even where a case has already been listed, the court should not proceed if counsel on either side, or both sides, have indicated that they are unable to attend.
The Association further argued that an accused or other party to a civil or criminal trial should not be forced to represent themselves simply because their lawyer is unavailable during the legal vacation.
It said the absence of counsel during the vacation should not be treated as wilful and that, in such circumstances, the appropriate step should be to adjourn the case to dates proposed by counsel.
The Bar warned that attempts to continue proceedings despite the established vacation arrangements could create the appearance of bias or selective justice.
It said lawyers have already had to extend their working hours because of the demands of the legal year, particularly following the introduction of afternoon court sittings under the new scheme.
The Association maintained that vacations should be observed as provided under the Rules of Court.
It also disclosed that several lawyers have already made plans for the vacation, including preparing written submissions, travelling to other jurisdictions, attending previously scheduled professional engagements and participating in conferences.
The GBA added that some law firms have closed for the entire legal vacation.
The Association also linked its position to the welfare and work-life balance of lawyers.
It argued that lawyers are personally responsible for their well-being and should be allowed to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
The GBA therefore insisted that duly earned vacations should not be interfered with.
The Association said it has consistently cooperated with the Judiciary to promote the smooth and speedy delivery of justice and expressed confidence that the Judiciary would, in return, respect the Rules of Court and the long-standing traditions surrounding legal vacations.
The GBA concluded its letter by expressing confidence that the petitions concerning the continued criminal proceedings would be considered favourably by the Chief Justice.
The letter was copied to the Judicial Secretary of the Supreme Court, the Registrar of the High Court, Specialised Division “1”, and representatives of the three law firms involved.
The copied recipients included Samuel Atta Akyea, Head of Chamber at Zoe, Akyea & Co.; Godfred Yeboah Dame, Head of Chambers at Dame & Partners; and Victoria Barth, Managing Partner of Sam Okudzeto & Associates.
The GBA’s position comes amid ongoing challenges over the continuation of selected part-heard criminal cases during the current legal vacation, with lawyers in some cases arguing that proceeding without their availability could undermine established legal practice and the right of accused persons to representation by counsel of their choice.



General News
TRAFFITECH-GH Full Rollout Moved to November 1
The Ghana Police Service has rescheduled the full implementation of its automated traffic law enforcement programme, TRAFFITECH-GH, from October 1 to November 1, 2026.
The Police Service, through the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), announced the change in a press release dated September 29, 2026, signed on behalf of the Director-General of Public Affairs by Deputy Superintendent of Police Richmond Mensah, Staff Officer at the Public Affairs Directorate.
According to the Police, the decision to postpone the full rollout is intended to allow for more extensive public awareness and education on the TRAFFITECH-GH programme before its implementation.
The additional period will be used to educate motorists and other road users on how the system operates, the types of traffic offences it is designed to detect, and the Electronic Notices of Violation (ENV) that will be issued to motorists who are found to have committed offences.
TRAFFITECH-GH forms part of the Ghana Police Service’s broader efforts to address indiscipline on the country’s roads and improve compliance with road traffic laws and regulations.
The automated enforcement system is expected to support the Police in detecting traffic violations and enforcing road safety regulations through technology.
The Police Service has therefore urged motorists, drivers and vehicle owners to use the additional period before the November 1 rollout to familiarise themselves with the programme and understand its operations.
The Service said the extension would provide road users with more time to understand the offences that could be detected under the system and the procedures surrounding the issuance of Electronic Notices of Violation.
The Ghana Police Service also expressed appreciation to the media for what it described as its unflinching support throughout the introduction of the TRAFFITECH-GH project.
It reaffirmed its commitment to working with the media and other stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the programme as part of efforts to improve road safety in Ghana.

The Police Service said the full implementation of TRAFFITECH-GH will now commence on November 1, 2026, rather than the previously announced October 1 date.
General News
Speeding and Running a Red Light? Traffitech-GH Can Issue Separate Tickets
A motorist who commits more than one traffic offence during the same incident could receive separate Electronic Notices of Violation under Ghana’s Traffitech-GH system.
The Ghana Police Service states that where more than one offence is recorded at the same time—for example, speeding and running a red light at the same intersection—each offence is recorded and processed separately.
The motorist would therefore receive a separate ENV and ticket number for each offence.
This means a single driving episode can potentially result in multiple enforcement records rather than one combined violation.
Traffitech-GH was developed by the Ghana Police Service as an automated road traffic enforcement system. It uses cameras and sensors to identify violations and automatically capture pictures and/or videos of offending vehicles.
The system is intended to increase compliance with road traffic laws and reduce road crashes, deaths and injuries.
The offences being monitored go beyond speeding and red-light violations.
The Police list expired roadworthiness certificates, wrongful overtaking, failure to use seatbelts, expired licences, driving uninsured vehicles and misuse of sirens among the offences that can be enforced under the system.
For insurance offences, drivers have a specific responsibility. The brochure says a driver is responsible for ensuring that the vehicle being driven has valid motor insurance, even if the driver does not own the vehicle.
Motorists can check insurance status by dialling 92057# followed by the vehicle registration number.
The system also applies broadly to vehicles using Ghana’s public roads.
The Police say Traffitech-GH covers private cars, motorcycles, tricycles such as aboboyaa, taxis, trotros, ride-hailing vehicles, haulage trucks and commercial buses.
However, the brochure says the system applies to Ghanaian-licensed drivers and locally registered vehicles, while offences involving foreign-registered vehicles are handled through separate procedures.
Company vehicles are also covered.
Where a vehicle is registered to a company, employer or organisation, the ENV is issued to the registered owner, with the company responsible for paying or contesting the violation within the stipulated period.
The enforcement process gives motorists 14 days to either settle a violation or begin a contest.
Those who choose to contest must start the process online. They cannot begin the contest procedure by simply walking into a GPS-MTTD or Judicial Service office.
After submitting the contest and selecting a preferred MTTD police station, the motorist will be contacted to arrange an appointment. Following the police-station stage, a court hearing will be scheduled.
If the motorist changes their mind during the contest process, they can pay the outstanding fine plus any accumulated late-payment penalty, which ends the contest process.
The multiple-ticket rule could therefore become particularly significant for motorists who commit several offences during a single journey, because each recorded offence is treated independently under the Traffitech-GH framework.
General News
No Camera Warning Sign Does Not Cancel Traffitech-GH Fine – Police
Motorists who assume that a traffic enforcement camera must be preceded by a warning sign before a violation can be enforced have been given a clear answer under the Traffitech-GH guidelines: the absence of a warning sign does not invalidate a traffic offence.
The Ghana Police Service’s Traffitech-GH brochure states that some road stretches and intersections have warning signs announcing enforcement activities or equipment, while others do not.
More significantly, the guidance says there is no legal obligation to announce MTTD-related traffic enforcement operations or equipment intended to improve road safety in Ghana.
This means motorists could encounter automated enforcement equipment without necessarily seeing a prior warning sign and still receive an Electronic Notice of Violation if they breach traffic regulations.
Traffitech-GH uses fixed, mobile or in-vehicle devices and laser speed-measurement equipment to detect offences. The system can capture speeding and red-light violations, with images and/or videos transmitted for validation before an ENV is issued.
The system also covers a wider range of offences, including expired roadworthiness certificates, wrongful overtaking, non-use of seatbelts, expired driving licences, driving uninsured vehicles and misuse of sirens.
Speed limits are also clearly outlined in the guidance.
The brochure states that, generally, highways have a speed limit of 90 km/h, motorways 100 km/h, urban or built-up areas 50 km/h, while a 30 km/h limit applies within areas such as schools, playgrounds, health facilities, churches, mosques, markets, shopping centres, processions and locations where human activity is predominant.
The Police guidance says licensed drivers are expected to know these limits whether or not a speed-limit sign is posted.
The red-light enforcement rule is equally strict.
According to the brochure, if the tyres of a vehicle cross the stop line after the traffic signal has turned red, the driver has committed a red-light offence.
A driver who believes the signal was still yellow at the precise moment the tyres crossed the stop line can review the video evidence and contest the violation within 14 days.
The controversial aspect is that motorists cannot rely simply on the absence of a camera-warning sign as a defence.
Instead, the Police direct drivers to use the evidence attached to their ticket. Motorists can enter their ticket number on Ghana.gov.gh and access the photo or video evidence and other violation data.
Access to the evidence is restricted to the vehicle owner or driver, authorised MTTD officers, back-office validation staff and the courts.
The enforcement system therefore places greater responsibility on drivers to know the applicable traffic rules rather than relying on warnings about enforcement equipment.
General News
ARMAH-KOFI BUAH HAS NOT RESIGNED FROM GOLDBOD — MINISTRY CLARIFIES
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has taken note of reports and social media publications suggesting that the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP, has resigned from the Board of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod).
The Ministry wishes to state categorically that the reports are false and do not reflect the facts.
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has not resigned from GoldBod, nor has there been any disagreement between him and the Ghana Gold Board.
The Minister, who initially served personally on the GoldBod Board, subsequently nominated the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr. Marcus Haligah, to represent him on the Board in January 2026.
This decision was purely administrative and was necessitated by the Minister’s demanding schedule and the extensive responsibilities associated with his portfolio.
At the time, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah was handling responsibilities across two Ministries, making it increasingly difficult for him to personally attend all Board meetings and engagements of GoldBod.
He therefore exercised the appropriate institutional arrangement by designating the Chief Director, a senior official of the Ministry, to represent him.
This arrangement is consistent with the governance framework of GoldBod, which permits designated representatives to serve on the Board on behalf of members where applicable.
The recent clarification by GoldBod itself confirms that the Minister initially served on the Board personally but, due to his busy schedule and inability to attend Board meetings regularly nominated the Chief Director to represent him.
The Ministry therefore urges the public, media organisations and other stakeholders to disregard reports suggesting that the Minister resigned from GoldBod or that his decision was connected to any disagreement, conflict or dissatisfaction with the institution.
The ministry enjoys a good working relationship with GoldBod.
The Ghana Geological Survey Authoriy (GGSA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GoldBod to intensify exploration of mining activities The Responsible Corporative Mining (rCOMSDEP) is equally working with the Godbod on responsible mining.
GoldBod is working with The Forestry Commission (FC) on land reclamation and has supported NAIMOS with vehicles as part of our collaborative efforts.
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah therefore remains committed to the Government’s agenda of strengthening Ghana’s gold sector, increasing local value retention, promoting responsible mining and ensuring that the country’s mineral resources contribute meaningfully to national development.
The Ministry further encourages the public and the media to rely on official communications from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ghana Gold Board on matters concerning the governance and operations of GoldBod.
General News
Traffitech-GH Fines: 1% Daily Penalty Awaits Defaulters After 14 Days
Motorists who receive Electronic Notices of Violation (ENVs) through Ghana’s new Traffitech-GH system have 14 days to pay or contest the violation, but failure to act within that period comes with an additional financial penalty.
The Ghana Police Service says a late-payment penalty of 1% of the original fine is added for every day of default after the 14-day payment period.
The rule is one of the most significant financial consequences contained in the Traffitech-GH enforcement guidelines, particularly for motorists who ignore an electronic notice or fail to resolve a disputed violation on time.
Traffitech-GH is an automated traffic enforcement system developed by the Ghana Police Service to enforce road traffic laws. Cameras and sensors capture images and/or videos of offences, including speeding and red-light violations.
Other offences covered include expired roadworthiness certificates, wrongful overtaking, failure to use seatbelts, use of an expired driving licence, driving an uninsured vehicle and misuse of sirens.
Once an offence has been reviewed, the vehicle owner receives an ENV by SMS. The notice contains important information including the ticket number, location, date and time of the offence, vehicle registration number, description of the alleged offence, amount payable and payment deadline.
Motorists have two main options after receiving the notice: pay within 14 days through an approved channel or contest the violation online within the same period.
Payments are to be made through Ghana’s official government platform, [www.ghana.gov.gh](http://www.ghana.gov.gh), using mobile money or a debit or credit card. Motorists can also dial *222#, select option 6 and follow the prompts.
The financial consequences do not end with the daily penalty.
The Traffitech-GH guidelines state that outstanding fines can also affect a motorist’s dealings with the DVLA. A person with an outstanding Traffitech-GH fine may be prevented from accessing certain DVLA services until the debt is cleared.
The Police guidance says DVLA will not renew a driver’s licence or transfer, register, re-register, lay off or inspect a vehicle for roadworthiness while an outstanding Traffitech-GH fine remains unpaid.
For motorists who receive multiple violations, each offence is treated as a separate offence record with its own ticket number, and all outstanding fines must be cleared before DVLA services are restored.
The system also allows motorists to check outstanding fines by dialling *220#.
The 1% daily penalty is therefore only one part of the enforcement mechanism. The combination of accumulating penalties and possible restrictions on DVLA transactions could create significant financial and administrative consequences for motorists who fail to resolve their cases within the stipulated period.
However, motorists who genuinely dispute a violation are given a 14-day window to begin the contest process. The Police advise drivers to first review the photographic or video evidence before deciding whether to pay or contest the notice.
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