By: Kekeli K. Blamey
A concerning rise in road accident fatalities has been reported in Ghana, with 1,817 lives lost between January and September this year, marking an 8.35% increase from the same period in 2023.
This surge is particularly alarming, given the overall decrease in road crashes, which dropped by 7.48% to 9,820 incidents.
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reports that injuries from road crashes have decreased to 11,408, down from 11,694 last year, and pedestrian knockdowns have also reduced to 1,750 from 1,847.
These improvements can be attributed to increased compliance with traffic regulations and collaborative efforts by the NRSA and its partners.
Pearl Adusu Sateckla, the NRSA’s Public Relations Officer, expressed concerns over the rising death toll and urged citizens to comply with road traffic laws.
With the 2024 elections and the Yuletide season approaching, Madam Sateckla reassured the public that the NRSA is actively working to reduce road accidents.
“NRSA has established district road safety management committees in all 16 regions, with approximately 82% of this initiative complete. I therefore urge drivers and all road users to exercise caution and adhere to speed limits,” she entreated.
The NRSA has been conducting joint Stay Alive Road Safety Education and Enforcement exercises with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS).
These efforts aim to educate drivers and passengers about road safety and enforce traffic regulations to prevent accidents.
