Child in the Front Seat? What Ghana Police Advice and the New Seat Belt Law Say

Is it enough to put a seat belt on a child and let them sit in front? Ghana’s amended road traffic law says the answer depends on the child’s age and size. The Ghana Police Service urges all occupants to buckle up and says babies need child restraints. The newer legal rules go further: some children must travel in the rear seat and be properly restrained there.

This matters on the short school run as much as on a long journey. Holding a child on an adult’s lap, sharing one belt or relying on a vehicle’s airbag is no substitute for a suitable child restraint.

Who cannot sit in the front?

Section 14 of the Road Traffic Act, as replaced by the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1153), says a driver must not carry a child in the front seat if the child is under 12 years old, or is both shorter than 145 cm and lighter than 36 kg. The word “or” matters: a child who has turned 12 may still fall within the size-based condition.

The same age-or-size test applies to the requirement that a child in the rear seat be properly restrained. Under the amended Act, a suitable child safety device is one designed to position and secure the child to reduce injury in a crash. The law also says a driver must not carry a child under 18 in a front or rear seat without a seat belt. For younger or smaller children, an adult belt on its own may not position them properly; use an appropriate child seat or booster and its harness or belt as designed.

These are the statute’s categories, not a recommendation to move a child to the front the moment they turn 12. The rear remains the sensible place for a child, with a restraint or belt that fits properly.

What the Police and WHO say

On its Road Safety Alerts page, the Ghana Police Service tells drivers to buckle up all occupants and protect babies with child restraints. The World Health Organization says Ghana’s updated child-restraint standards take account of a child’s age, height, weight and physical vulnerability. WHO reports that suitable restraints can reduce deaths in crashes among younger infants by up to 71%.

Before driving, give each child their own place; choose a restraint suited to their size; install it according to the seat and car makers’ instructions; check that the harness or belt lies correctly; and confirm it is secured every time. If the vehicle has no suitable restraint for the child, arrange one before the journey. A child standing between seats or sitting on an adult’s lap is unprotected in a sudden stop.

The amended Act says contravening these child-carrying provisions can, on conviction, attract a fine of up to 10 penalty units, imprisonment of up to four months, or both. The safety reason is more immediate than the penalty: children need protection sized for them, in the correct seat, on every trip.