Every year, thousands of Ghanaians leave their homes full of hope, only to be met with tragedy on our roads.
Road accidents have become an almost accepted part of our daily lives, a silent epidemic that kills more people annually than many deadly diseases. The numbers are staggering—and the human cost, immeasurable.
According to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Ghana recorded over 15,000 road crashes in 2023, resulting in more than 2,000 deaths and over 13,000 injuries.
These figures should keep us all up at night, especially when we consider that the majority of victims are within the productive age group of 18 to 55 years.
This isn’t just a public health crisis—it’s an economic one, a developmental one, and more painfully, a human tragedy that continues to unfold every single day.
The State of Our Roads: More than just potholes
It’s tempting to lay all the blame on our deteriorating road infrastructure, and certainly, poor roads are a major contributing factor.
Many highways lack basic safety features such as visible lane markings, functioning streetlights, pedestrian walkways, and proper signage.
Rural roads are often narrow, unpaved, and riddled with potholes. Urban congestion, especially in Accra and Kumasi, further increases the risk of accidents due to aggressive driving, illegal U-turns, and unsafe overtaking.
But it’s not just about the roads. The root causes of Ghana’s road safety crisis are far more complex and interconnected.
The Human Factor: Carelessness and Indiscipline
The leading cause of road accidents in Ghana is human error—a fact consistently highlighted by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service. Indiscipline behind the wheel accounts for more than 70% of crashes.
Speeding, wrongful overtaking, drunk driving, fatigue, and failure to observe traffic rules are rampant. Commercial drivers, under pressure to make more trips and money, often disregard speed limits and drive dangerously.
Private drivers, including those operating ride-hailing services, sometimes lack proper training or exhibit recklessness on the road.
Pedestrians, too, play a part—jaywalking is common, and many do not use designated crossing points, often because there are none nearby.
The Vehicle Factor: Death traps on wheels
Many vehicles on Ghana’s roads are simply not roadworthy. Overloaded buses, poorly maintained taxis, broken-down trucks, and rickety “trotros” are everyday sights. Brakes fail, tires burst, headlights don’t work, and yet these vehicles continue to operate—with or without valid roadworthiness certificates.
It is no secret that corruption within the vehicle inspection and licensing systems enables the issuance of roadworthy certificates to unworthy vehicles. This systemic failure is a ticking time bomb.
Emergency Response: Too Little, Too Late
A critical, often overlooked part of the road safety puzzle is post-crash care. Many victims die not because their injuries were unsurvivable, but because help came too late. Ambulance response times are inconsistent, especially outside major cities.
First responders—if any—often lack the training or equipment to administer effective aid. In many cases, good Samaritans transport victims in taxis or private cars, sometimes worsening their injuries.
This is unacceptable. A more effective, coordinated national emergency response system could save hundreds of lives each year.
Enforcement Gaps: Laws Without Teeth
Ghana has decent road traffic laws, but enforcement is weak. Drivers routinely ignore red lights, drive without seatbelts, and use mobile phones while driving. Many offenders go unpunished, and those who are caught are often let off with token fines or bribes.
The presence of police officers on our roads should act as a deterrent—but too often, it does not. Corruption, lack of resources, and weak accountability mechanisms all contribute to a culture of impunity.
The Way Forward: From Rhetoric to Action
We can no longer afford to treat road safety as a seasonal concern, raised only during holidays or high-profile tragedies. It must be treated as a national priority—year-round, at every level.
Here are some key recommendations:
Invest in Road Infrastructure: Modern roads with proper lighting, markings, traffic signs, and pedestrian facilities can drastically reduce accidents. Road design must consider safety as a top priority, not an afterthought.
Enforce Traffic Laws Relentlessly: Use technology such as speed cameras, dashboard cams, and automated fines to ensure compliance. The NRSA, MTTD, and DVLA must be empowered—and held accountable—to perform their mandates without fear or favor.
Reform Driver Training and Licensing: We need to overhaul our driver training institutions to produce competent and disciplined drivers. Licensing must be strictly merit-based. Periodic re-testing and refresher courses should be mandatory.
Clean Up the Vehicle Inspection System: Digitize and monitor vehicle roadworthiness testing to eliminate corruption and ensure that only safe vehicles are allowed on the roads.
Mass Education Campaigns: National road safety must be embedded in our culture. Media, schools, churches, transport unions, and civil society groups must all be engaged in sustained, relatable campaigns to change attitudes and behaviours.
Improve Emergency Response: Expand and properly equip the National Ambulance Service. Train first responders. Install more emergency call stations along highways and ensure hospitals are ready to handle trauma cases effectively.
Hold Institutions Accountable: Transport companies, especially commercial fleets, must be held to high safety standards. Government ministries, departments, and agencies must walk the talk—not just talk the talk.
Conclusion: A Call to Collective Action
Every road accident in Ghana is a preventable tragedy. Behind the statistics are real people—mothers, fathers, children, friends—whose lives are abruptly cut short or permanently altered. The time for finger-pointing is over.
What we need now is collective, sustained action—from policymakers, transport unions, drivers, engineers, law enforcement, the media, and every Ghanaian.
Road safety is not a luxury. It is a right. And we must all rise to defend it.
