Road crashes claim 1,937 lives across Ghana between January and August 2025, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has revealed. During that period, 16,348 vehicles were involved in crashes, and some 10,957 people were injured in 9,626 reported cases.
The vehicle-types implicated include 5,515 commercial vehicles, 6,647 private cars, and 4,186 motorcycles. NRSA’s Acting Director-General, Abraham Amaliba, said speeding is the cause in over 80% of the accidents, especially in both rural and urban zones. Pedestrian indiscretion such as hawking, poor road design, and maintenance were also cited as major contributory factors.
To address the rise in crashes, NRSA has proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations (LI 2180), particularly to improve the removal of broken-down vehicles from roads and to expand automated traffic enforcement geared toward curbing speeding. Plans are also underway to intensify road safety education, include safety oversight in Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and improve safety for motorcycle users by encouraging helmet use and protective gear.
Amaliba expressed concern over insufficient funding for road safety initiatives, drawing attention to delays in staff replacements and resource constraints. He appealed to government and stakeholders to provide the necessary financial support. Deputy Minister of Transport Dorcas Affo-Toffey, who toured NRSA operations, praised the Authority’s efforts and assured that the Ministry remains committed to reducing road fatalities.
Beyond regulatory reforms, road safety experts have urged the installation of more speed cameras on highways, stricter driver licensing systems, and investment in better road infrastructure. They argue that education alone cannot reduce accidents unless enforcement and engineering solutions are scaled up nationwide. Communities are also being encouraged to set up neighborhood watch systems around busy highways to reduce pedestrian knock-downs, which remain a serious concern in both cities and rural towns.
