Josiah
The Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice has called upon the Ghana Police Service to cease the practice of impounding vehicles for minor traffic violations.
In a statement addressed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, expressed concerns over consistent complaints from the public, legal practitioners, and authorities regarding the police’s habit of impounding or restricting vehicle usage for minor infractions under the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 (L.I. 2180).
The Attorney General highlighted that the law explicitly prescribes fines and/or imprisonment as penalties for minor infractions. Therefore, the impoundment of vehicles does not necessarily indicate a breach of any regulations stipulated in Regulations 158 or L.I. 2180.
The statement issued by the Attorney General stated, “Hence, the notion that the vehicle must be ‘used as an exhibit’ in court is untenable and unjustifiable.”
The Attorney General strongly advised police officers against impounding or restricting the use of motor vehicles for minor offenses such as alleged violations of Regulation 106’s road rules, disregarding traffic signals, or driving without a valid insurance certificate. The Attorney General serves as the government’s primary legal advisor.
Source:Omanghana.com
