By Nadia Ntiamoah
A Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, has raised concerns over the potential conflict of interest in the implementation of the government’s TraffiTech initiative, warning that the commercial interests of the private company involved could undermine the programme’s primary objective of improving road safety.
Dr Zaato argues that allowing a private company with a profit-making mandate to participate in a road safety enforcement system could create competing interests, particularly in determining how traffic violations are detected, processed and penalised.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV, he explained that while the government’s intention behind the initiative should be to reduce road accidents through effective monitoring and enforcement of traffic regulations, the private operator could be motivated by the need to maximise revenue.
According to him, the potential tension between public safety objectives and private commercial interests raises important questions about how the system will be managed and whether the enforcement process will prioritise compliance or financial returns.
He cautioned that a company operating under a profit-driven arrangement might have an incentive to push for higher fines against motorists rather than concentrate exclusively on changing dangerous driving behaviour.
“Herein lies the real or the potential clash between their profit motive and the government’s social service or public safety or security motives. The private sector may, in an attempt to maximise their profits, quickly make sure that they rather increase the fines,” he stated.
Dr Zaato’s intervention has brought renewed attention to the financial structure behind the TraffiTech initiative, particularly the role of private-sector participation in the enforcement of road traffic regulations.
The central concern is whether a system designed to improve road discipline could create financial incentives that encourage aggressive enforcement and increased penalties.
While traffic enforcement is intended to discourage speeding and other dangerous driving practices, the lecturer believes the involvement of a commercial operator requires clear safeguards to prevent profit considerations from influencing public safety decisions.
Automated traffic monitoring systems are generally designed to identify violations, improve compliance with road regulations and reduce the need for direct human intervention in traffic enforcement.
However, Dr Zaato’s warning highlights the importance of ensuring that private-sector participation does not compromise the public interest.
He believes the government’s responsibility should remain focused on protecting lives, improving road discipline and ensuring that traffic enforcement serves the broader interests of society.
