1,937 Lives Lost, 10,957 Injured: Ghana’s Road Crises (Jan–Aug 2025)

According to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Ghana recorded 1,937 fatalities from road accidents between January and August 2025. In the same period, 10,957 people were injured, and a total of 16,348 vehicles were involved in crashes. The NRSA noted 9,626 reported incidents, involving 5,515 commercial vehicles, 6,647 private cars, and 4,186 motorcycles.

These figures were shared by Abraham Amaliba, Acting Director-General of the NRSA, during a visit by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, to familiarize herself with the Authority’s work.

Amaliba identified several key risk factors behind the high numbers:

• Speeding: He stated that more than 80% of crashes stem from drivers exceeding speed limits in both rural and urban areas.

• Indiscriminate pedestrian movement (such as hawking on roads)

• Poor road engineering and maintenance

To address these problems, the NRSA is proposing amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations (LI 2180) to improve the clearance of broken-down vehicles and is advocating for automated enforcement to deter speeding.

Going forward, the NRSA plans to:

1. Intensify road-safety education

2. Integrate safety initiatives into the work of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs)

3. Enhance motorcycle safety by promoting helmets and protective gear

However, Amaliba expressed concern about limited funding for road safety programs and appealed for government support to enable staff replacements.

During her tour, Deputy Minister Affo-Toffey praised the NRSA’s efforts and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to reducing road crashes.

Also visited were:

• Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA): The Acting CEO, Dr Frederick Apoh, announced operations on the Tema–Mpakadan rail line would begin on October 1, 2025, with work ongoing on the Tema–Nsawam and Takoradi–Nsuta lines. He emphasized the railway’s job-creation potential.

• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA): Acting CEO Julius N. Kotey revealed that a new sticker system boosted sticker issuance from 2,000 to 12,000, increasing revenue. He also disclosed plans to replace all vehicle number plates by 2026 to meet global standards, and highlighted procedural improvements in DVLA offices in Adenta, Bole, Dormaa, Bechem, and Asamankese.

Affo-Toffey assured both agencies of the government’s backing to strengthen their service delivery and deepen their contributions to national development.