Road crashes claim 1,937 lives in 8 months
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has revealed that 1,937 people lost their lives in road crashes across the country between January and August this year.
Data released by the Authority show that 9,626 crashes were recorded within the period, involving 16,348 vehicles and resulting in 10,957 injuries.
The vehicles comprised 4,186 motorcycles, 6,647 private vehicles and 5,515 commercial vehicles.
Acting Director-General of the NRSA, Abraham Amaliba, disclosed the figures during a working visit by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, who sought to acquaint herself with the operations of the Authority.
According to Mr Amaliba, speeding remains the leading cause of road crashes, accounting for more than 80 per cent of cases.
He anoted that reckless pedestrian behaviour such as hawking, along with poor road engineering and maintenance, continue to endanger lives.
He further noted that the Authority has proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations (LI 2180) to strengthen the removal of broken-down vehicles from roads.
The NRSA is also advocating automated traffic enforcement to curb excessive speeding. Mr Amaliba said the Authority intends to scale up road safety education and integrate such programmes into the activities of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
He stressed the importance of promoting motorcycle safety through the use of helmets and protective gear.
However, he expressed concern over inadequate funding for road safety interventions and called for financial clearance to replace staff who are leaving the Authority.
Mrs Affo-Toffey commended the NRSA for its efforts and assured the Ministry’s commitment to working with stakeholders to reduce road crashes.
As part of her tour, the Deputy Minister also visited the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
At the GRDA, Acting Chief Executive Dr Frederick Apoh announced that the Tema–Mpakadan railway line will commence operations on 1st October 2025, while work continues on the Tema–Nsawam and Takoradi–Nsuta lines.
He emphasised that the expansion of the rail network will create employment opportunities for young people.
During her visit to the DVLA, Acting Chief Executive Julius N. Kotey disclosed that the introduction of a new sticker system has increased issuance from 2,000 to 12,000, significantly boosting revenue.
He also revealed that Ghana’s vehicle number plates will be replaced with internationally compliant standards by 2026.
Mr Kotey added that new measures have been rolled out to enhance service delivery at DVLA offices in Adenta, Bole, Dormaa, Bechem and Asamankese, among other locations.
Mrs Affo-Toffey assured the agencies of government’s support to strengthen their operations and enhance their contributions to national development.
