The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has raised concerns over the issuance of driving licenses to minors, highlighting the significant risks this poses to road safety in Ghana.

The Head of Public Relations of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Pearl Adusu Sateckla, in an interview with Peace FM News stressed the importance of ensuring that only people of legal age and with the required skills obtain a license.

His comments were prompted by a recent tragic incident involving Erald Amoako, the son of Bishop Salifu Amoako, who was involved in an accident in East Legon that left two people dead.

The Accra High Court has granted bail to Bishop Salifu Amoako and Mouha Amoako, parents of Erald Amoako, whose actions led to the accident that claimed the lives of two people in East Legon.

A third person accused, Linda Bempah, described by prosecutors as a saleswoman at Lilo Stitches which belongs to the suspect’s brother, was also released on bail.

Salifu Amoako and Mouha Amoako, parents of the suspect driver, were arrested by police on Tuesday and produced in court on Wednesday and were charged with allowing a person without a driver’s license.

Pearl Adusu Sateckla highlights the need for stricter compliance with car driving rules in order to improve road safety and prevent similar events from happening in the future.

She emphasized that driving is not just about controlling a vehicle, but also about demonstrating responsibility, maturity and the ability to navigate complex and often unpredictable road conditions. Licensing individuals, especially minors, who lack these essential attributes increases the risk of accidents and endangers public safety.

The NRSA’s caution also highlights the broader responsibility of families and society to instill a sense of road safety from an early age. Parents and guardians play a key role in ensuring that children understand the dangers of irresponsible driving and follow the law. Schools and community initiatives can also help by providing road safety education, so that minors grow up with a solid understanding of traffic laws and responsible behavior on the road.

She called for strict sanctions to be applied against those who allow minors to drive illegally, which will act as a deterrent and reinforce the message that road safety is a collective responsibility and ensure that only qualified people and trained obtaining a license is a necessary step to reduce road crashes, injuries and deaths.