The Ghana Police Service has been urged to stop impounding cars for minor traffic infractions by the Office of the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice.
Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, voiced concerns in a statement addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) about the regular complaints from members of the public, lawyers, and higher-ups regarding police officers’ practice of impounding or forbidding the use of vehicles for minor infractions under the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 (L.I. 2180).
The Attorney General claims that the law expressly specifies fines and/or jail time as punishments for minor infractions. The impounding of automobiles, therefore, does not necessarily serve as evidence of a violation of any rules as indicated in Regulations 158 or L.I. 2180.
The statement issued by the Attorney General read, “Thus, a position that the vehicle is required to be ‘used as an exhibit’ in court is untenable and unreasonable.”
The Attorney General strongly advised police officers not to impound or forbid the use of motor vehicles for minor offenses like allegedly breaking Regulation 106’s road rules, running red lights, or operating a vehicle without a valid insurance certificate. The Attorney General serves as the government’s primary legal advisor.
