By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has announced plans to introduce technology-driven reforms to tackle illegalities, extortion and corruption at axle load control stations across the country.
Speaking during an infrastructure inspection tour of road projects under the government’s “Big Push” Programme in the Volta Region, Mr Agbodza expressed concern over how some axle load stations are being compromised by politically connected individuals and corrupt operators who allegedly allow overloaded cargo trucks to pass in exchange for bribes.
“We will soon make people at axle load stations useless with a new technology to curb extortion and corruption and protect our roads,” Mr Agbodza stated.
The Ministry’s shift towards automation is aimed at removing human interference from the weighing process, ensuring transparency and improving real-time monitoring of cargo weights.
The proposed technology rollout is expected to include automated compliance systems such as the “Dead Man Switch”, which will prevent manual manipulation of axle load readings. It will also eliminate physical cash handling at stations to reduce opportunities for extortion and revenue leakages.
According to the Minister, the new system will also incorporate regional tracking mechanisms aligned with the ECOWAS Supplementary Act to enforce standardised cargo weight limits across borders.
The technology reforms will complement proposed legislative changes aimed at imposing tougher sanctions on haulage operators who overload their vehicles and damage public roads.
Mr Agbodza disclosed that a bill currently before Parliament will increase penalties for operating overloaded vehicles from GH¢5,000 to GH¢50,000, while holding both vehicle owners and drivers accountable.
Under the proposed framework, cargo exceeding the legal weight limit will also be confiscated and auctioned, with proceeds channelled into the Road Maintenance Trust Fund to support road rehabilitation.
“Our goal is to bring axle loading breaches down to zero,” Mr Agbodza said.
He added that losing part of their goods through confiscation would serve as a strong deterrent and encourage haulage operators to comply with axle load regulations.
Heavy-duty overloading remains one of the major causes of road deterioration in Ghana, contributing to the rapid decline of asphalt roads and increasing the cost of maintenance.
The planned technology intervention follows recommendations from a five-member review committee established by the Ministry, which brought together expertise from the National Security Secretariat, Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), and Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) to identify weaknesses in the current axle load monitoring system.
The Ministry has stressed that the new automated system will not allow political or social influence to interfere with enforcement.