Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor and Frank Annoh-Dompreh demand state vehicle insurance

Parliamentary Chief Whips Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor and Frank Annoh-Dompreh have jointly called for the removal of legal exemptions that allow state-owned vehicles to operate without compulsory third-party insurance. During a parliamentary session on November 4, 2026, the Majority and Minority Whips argued that the current policy of self-insurance leaves road accident victims without compensation and creates significant financial liabilities for the state. They urged the government to allocate specific funding in the 2027 Budget to ensure the entire national fleet is properly covered.

The legislators highlighted a stark disparity in road safety regulations, noting that while private citizens are required by law to insure their vehicles, the state remains largely exempt under the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act of 1958. According to the Chief Whips, approximately 98% to 99% of the more than 18,000 government-owned vehicles are currently uninsured. This includes over 300 ambulances and various ministry fleets. They argued that this self-insurance model is ineffective without a dedicated fund, often resulting in victims of crashes involving government vehicles being denied their rightful compensation.

To illustrate the financial risk to the taxpayer, the Chief Whips cited an Auditor-General’s report revealing that the state was forced to pay a judgment debt of GH₵266,399 following an accident involving an uninsured government vehicle. They also referenced a July 2024 incident where a crash involving an uninsured school bus left victims with no recourse for insurance claims. With road fatalities in Ghana reaching 2,949 in 2025—an 18.2% increase from the previous year—the whips emphasized that the state must be held to the same safety and accountability standards as its citizens.

In response to the joint statement, the Speaker of Parliament directed the Attorney General and the Minister of Finance to address the concerns and explore legislative reforms to revoke the long-standing exemptions. The Chief Whips are demanding a public audit of all state vehicles and their registration on the Motor Insurance Database to ensure compliance is trackable. They maintained that requiring all government agencies to insure their fleets is essential for protecting public assets and restoring trust in the national insurance system.