Red Light, STOP Sign or Pedestrian Crossing: Three Costly Junction Mistakes

Update, 29 September 2026: The Ghana Police Service has moved full TRAFFITECH-GH implementation from 1 November to 1 November 2026 for more public education. Read the new Police announcement. Existing road traffic rules remain in force.

A junction can look clear for a moment. That does not make a red light, STOP sign or pedestrian crossing optional. Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), specify duties for each situation, and the differences are worth knowing before a rushed turn becomes a dangerous one.

Red means stop

Regulation 222(7)–(8) addresses proceeding through a red signal at a signalised intersection. A Police Legal and Prosecution Unit officer’s published penalty breakdown states a fine of 10–30 penalty units (GH¢120–GH¢360), up to 30 days’ imprisonment, or both. The fact that cross traffic appears absent does not cancel the signal.

STOP and YIELD have their own duties

Other parts of Regulation 222 address stopping at the proper point and giving way where a STOP or YIELD sign applies. Approaching a YIELD sign without slowing down and giving way when required is also covered. The stated fine range is likewise GH¢120–GH¢360, with possible imprisonment of up to 30 days, or both.

A stopped vehicle at a crossing is a warning

Regulation 224 prohibits overtaking a vehicle that has stopped to let someone cross at a pedestrian crossing. Drivers must also slow down when approaching a marked or signed crossing. The stated fine is 10–25 units (GH¢120–GH¢300), or up to 30 days’ imprisonment.

Watch for pedestrians before the crossing, stop where required and wait until it is safe to proceed. The figures above are the relevant legal penalty ranges; a qualifying automated notice has a separate graduated schedule. The Police say their full camera enforcement programme begins on 1 November 2026.

These are offences under Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519). The stated fine and imprisonment ranges are legal penalties, with imprisonment subject to court proceedings. They should not be mistaken for an automatic TRAFFITECH-GH camera notice.