Seventeen members of the Saviour Church of Ghana have lost their lives in a horrifying road crash involving a fuel tanker and a Ford Transit mini-bus on the outskirts of Juaso in the Asante-Akim South Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The tragic accident, which occurred around 3:00 p.m. on Monday, July 28, has plunged the Obogu community into deep mourning.
The victims were returning from a Saviour Church convention held in Osiem in the Eastern Region when the deadly collision occurred along the Kumasi-Accra highway.#
Head on collision with fuel tanker
According to eyewitnesses and preliminary investigations, the fuel tanker, with registration number GT 1674-17, was travelling towards Accra when it attempted to overtake another vehicle.
In an attempt to avoid a collision, the driver of the mini-bus carrying the Saviour Church swerved onto the shoulder of the road.
Tragically, the tanker also veered off its lane and slammed head-on into the mini-bus, reducing it to a mangled wreck.
The impact of the collision was so severe that nearly all the passengers in the mini-bus died instantly.
Rescue teams rush to the scene
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service responded swiftly to the accident scene to manage traffic and aid in the rescue operation.
A few survivors were rushed to the Juaso Government Hospital for emergency medical care.
The bodies of the deceased have since been deposited at the Steward Hospital morgue at Yawkwei for preservation and autopsy.
Panic and grief sweep through Obogu
News of the tragedy spread quickly, sending waves of panic and sorrow through Obogu, the hometown of the victims.
Hundreds of residents reportedly rushed to the hospital to determine if their loved ones were among the deceased.
“This is the darkest day in our community’s history,” said one grieving resident. “These were people who had just returned from seeking the face of God, and now they are gone forever.”
The identities of the victims are expected to be released once formal identification procedures are completed and the families have been notified.
A pattern of tragedies on the Kumasi-Accra Highway
This latest incident adds to a growing list of fatal crashes along the Kumasi-Accra highway—one of the country’s busiest and deadliest road corridors.
Road safety campaigners have long decried the lack of enforcement of traffic regulations, poor driver discipline, and inadequate road infrastructure as persistent challenges.
“The repeated tragedies on this stretch are unacceptable,” said a spokesperson from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA). “We urge all stakeholders to act with urgency to save lives.”
Remembering the faithful
As the nation reels from the devastating news, the Asante Akyem South community remembers the victims not just as accident statistics, but as devout Christians who spent their final hours in worship and fellowship.
“They were returning from a spiritual programme, full of hope and faith,” said a local church elder. “Now, their journey on earth has ended, but we pray their souls find peace in the Lord.”
Plans are underway for memorial services, and government officials are expected to visit the bereaved families in the coming days.
In the meantime, the community of Obogu stands united in grief, drawing strength from one another as they mourn the sudden and painful loss of 17 beloved church members.
