Government to Raise Overloaded Truck Fines to GH¢50,000 in Crackdown on Road Damage
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, has announced that government is taking steps to significantly increase penalties imposed on operators of overloaded trucks, raising the maximum fine from GH¢5,000 to GH¢50,000.
According to the minister, the existing penalty regime is ineffective and does not adequately reflect the extent of damage caused to the country’s road infrastructure by overloaded vehicles.
Mr Agbodza made this known during an interview with GTV on Monday, January 26, 2026. He explained that the current fines are far below the actual cost of repairing damage caused by excessive axle loads, making it cheaper for operators to overload vehicles than to comply with the law.
He noted that while the axle load control system applies graduated fines depending on the level of excess weight, even the highest penalty under the current framework has failed to deter offenders.
The minister stated that government is in the process of revising the legislative instrument that governs axle load enforcement to allow for stiffer sanctions. Under the proposed changes, the maximum fine will be increased to GH¢50,000.
Beyond financial penalties, Mr Agbodza revealed that stricter measures are also being considered for habitual offenders. These include the confiscation of vehicles used repeatedly to violate axle load regulations.
He emphasized that the ministry is determined to enforce compliance and protect national road assets, stressing that overloading remains one of the leading causes of rapid road deterioration. The practice, he said, contributes significantly to pavement failure and drives up road maintenance costs across the country.
