The Ghana Police Service has urged the public to disregard a flyer circulating on social media, purporting to be a public safety announcement from the Service, which claims, among other things, that the use of AirPods, earphones, or other audio devices while riding or driving is prohibited under the law.
In a statement issued in Accra, the Service clarified that the flyer was not a communication of the Ghana Police Service, noting that it had neither issued nor authorised the said publication.
The Service said its Cybercrime Unit was working to trace those behind the false publication.
It, however, reminded motorists and other road users that any activity or device that distracts them or compromises their attention, hearing, control of the vehicle or awareness of surrounding traffic could pose a serious risk to road safety, and urged them to avoid distractions and exercise maximum care while on the road.
The Service further urged all motorists, motorcyclists and other road users to familiarise themselves with and comply fully with the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519) and all other applicable road traffic laws, stressing that compliance was essential to reducing road crashes and protecting lives.
Regulation 132 of L.I. 2519 governs the prohibition on the use of communication devices while driving. It defines a communication device as one, other than a two-way radio, which performs an interactive communication function by transmitting and receiving information, and states that such a device is regarded as hand-held if it is or has to be held at some point during a call or other interactive communication function.
The regulation exempts persons driving fire-fighting, rescue or ambulance vehicles, as well as traffic officers, police officers, members of the Armed Forces, and officers of other recognised government security agencies or emergency service providers, while executing their duties.
A person who contravenes the regulation commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than fifty penalty units or a term of imprisonment of not more than three months, or to both.
The Ghana Police Service entreated the public to rely on official Police communication channels for information on road traffic regulations and other public safety matters, and reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing road traffic laws fairly and professionally while working with all stakeholders to promote safety on the roads.
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