Smart camera system for traffic monitoring deployed in Ghana
Information Certainty: Speculative
Deployment Purpose: Criminal investigations, Surveillance, Traffic Surveillance
| Summary |
|---|
| In 2021, Ghana's Motor Transport and Traffic Directive (MTTD) deployed 300 'intelligent' cameras nationwide, manned by a team of workers. These cameras likely utilize object detection and automatic plate recognition, aiding in traffic monitoring. Managed by MTTD, the Intelligence Video Surveillance (IVS) system operates 24/7, allowing officers to monitor multiple areas simultaneously and zoom in on traffic discrepancies. The system collaborates with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to gather vehicle details. The MTTD believes this technology will enhance road safety by tracking activities across major road networks. |
Products and Institutions:
| Product Deployed | |
|---|---|
| Institutions ⠉ | |
| Datasets | |
| Search software |
Status and Events:
| Status | Ongoing |
|---|---|
| Events | Start (26 August 2021, Documented, ?, No description) |
| Start Date | |
| End Date |
Users:
| Involved Entities | |
|---|---|
| Managed by | Ghana Police Service |
| Used by | The Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate of the Ghana Police Service |
Location:
| City | Accra |
|---|---|
| Country ⠉ | Ghana |
Description[ ]
In 2021, The Motor Transport and Traffic Directive (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service installed 300 cameras around Ghana. They are said to be 'intelligent' though they are manned by a large team of workers. It is possible that they use object detection as they seem to be able to detect traffic discrepancies. It has been documented that automatic plate recognition is used.
The centre, which is managed by the MTTD, conducts traffic monitoring and surveillance throughout the country with the help of special CCTV cameras called Intelligence Video Surveillance (IVS), which are installed at the various intersections, vital installations and highways across the country 2
Monitoring Officer Constable Afrifa Emmanuel Odei, who says the Centre works 24 hours a day, explained that “when I sit behind my computer, I can monitor many areas in a particular region on my split-screen. “There is a feature to enable me to rotate the areas I watch, and for instance, when I see a video of a vehicle that has parked at an authorized place, I zoom in to get a video of the area, zoom in further to capture the vehicle then I take a picture of it.” He continues to explain, “there is software embedded in the camera called automatic number plate registration which we send to our officers who take it from there.” The Centre works with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to get details of the vehicles captures by the system 1
The supervisor at the Centre, Chief Superintendent Joseph Zanu, is hopeful this will help reduce the carnage on the roads. “The cameras have special security features which track you where ever you are because the intelligent video surveillance cameras capture almost every major road network in the country,” he said 1
References
- a b c "Police MTTD mounts 3000 intelligent surveillance cameras to capture negligent drivers - MyJoyOnline.com". (2021) <https://www.myjoyonline.com/police-mttd-mounts-3000-intelligent-surveillance-cameras-to-capture-negligent-drivers/> Accessed: 2022-11-22
- a b "Ghana Police Activates Road Surveillance Centre To Check Traffic Infractions". (2021) <https://technovagh.com/ghana-police-activates-road-surveillance-centre-to-check-traffic-infractions/> Accessed: 2022-11-22