‘A State that asks its citizens to insure must be willing to insure itself’ – Chief Whips

Parliament’s Majority and Minority Chief Whips have called for an end to exempting government vehicles from compulsory third-party insurance, saying road crash victims deserve equal access to compensation.

In a joint statement delivered on the Floor of Parliament on November 4, 2026, Frank Annoh-Dompreh and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor urged the government to insure its fleet immediately.

They also demanded funding for premiums in the 2027 Budget and amendments to remove the exemption from the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Act, 1958 (Act 42).

“Mr. Speaker, a State that asks its citizens to insure must be willing to insure itself,” the statement said.

The Chief Whips questioned why citizens face punishment for using uninsured vehicles while the State enjoys an exemption.

“We demand of the trader, the taxi driver and the tricycle rider what the State does not demand of itself.”

They placed the burden on victims at the centre of their appeal.

“A child is no less an orphan because the vehicle was owned by the state.”

The statement cited findings presented to Parliament in 2022 indicating that some 98 to 99 per cent of more than 18,000 government vehicles were uninsured.

It also cited a July 2024 crash involving an uninsured GETFund school bus near Koforidua. According to the statement, victims received no insurance benefit.

The Chief Whips rejected the argument that government could simply pay compensation itself.

“However, self-insurance without a ring-fenced fund is a promise on paper.”

They said victims could face petitions to ministries, legal action against the Attorney-General and delays while awaiting budgetary provision.

Insurance, they argued, would give victims enforceable rights and make the State’s costs more predictable.

“Compensation becomes a right, not a favour.”

The statement cited National Road Safety Authority figures showing that 2,949 people died in road crashes in 2025, an 18.2 per cent increase over 2024.

Against that backdrop, the Chief Whips urged all ministries, departments and agencies to insure their vehicles and register them on the Motor Insurance Database without waiting for Parliament to amend the law.

They also called for a published audit of the State’s fleet and its insurance status.

They stressed that the appeal crossed party lines.

“Successive governments, including mine, left this exemption untouched. Fixing it should be a test we all pass.”

The Speaker charged the Attorney General and Finance Minister to act on the statement.