Roads Minister Announces Major Hike in Fines for Overloaded Trucks from ¢5k to ¢50k

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr. Governs Kwame Agbodza, has revealed that the government is revising regulations to raise penalties for overloaded trucks from GH¢5,000 to GH¢50,000, calling the current fine insufficient to deter offenders.

Speaking in an interview with GTV on Monday, January 26, 2026, Mr. Agbodza explained that the existing maximum penalty does not reflect the actual cost of road damage caused by overloaded vehicles.

“You cannot have a penalty of GH¢5,000 when the damage being done is worth GH¢50,000. The penalty must be increased,” he said.

The Minister noted that the current axle load enforcement system applies graduated fines depending on how much a vehicle exceeds the legal weight limit.

While fines increase with higher levels of overloading, even the highest penalty under the current system has failed to discourage the practice.

“The penalty is not a deterrent. The cost of the fine is lower than the cost of overloading,” Mr. Agbodza said.

To address this, the government is revising the legislative instrument that governs axle load control to allow for a significantly higher penalty.

“We are revising the instrument so that the penalty will be GH¢50,000,” he confirmed.

Mr. Agbodza further warned that repeat offenders could face even tougher measures, including the confiscation of vehicles used in violating the law.

“If you are a repeat offender, we will confiscate the vehicle. We are going to make it tough,” he said.

The Roads and Highways Ministry has consistently identified vehicle overloading as a major contributor to the rapid deterioration of roads, noting that the practice accelerates pavement failure and increases maintenance costs.