Nearly 2,000 people lost their lives in road traffic accidents across Ghana between January and August 2025, according to the latest report from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA).
The data highlights the persistent challenge of road safety in the country, with thousands more sustaining injuries during the same period.
The report points to overspeeding, wrongful overtaking, driver fatigue, and disregard for traffic regulations as the leading causes of the fatalities.
Commercial vehicles, private cars, and motorcycles all accounted for significant portions of the road accidents recorded in 2025.
Motorcycles, in particular, remain a growing concern, contributing to a notable share of both deaths and injuries on the roads.
Out of the 16,348 vehicles involved in the accidents, 10,957 persons were injured, and 9,626 total accident cases were reported.
From the figures, 5,515 were commercial vehicles, 6,647 were private vehicles, and 4,186 were motorcycles.
The Acting Director-General, NRSA, Abraham Amaliba, made this known when Mrs Dorcas Affo-Toffey, the Deputy Minister of Transport, and her team toured the Authority to familiarise themselves with their operations.
Amaliba said speeding contributed to over 80 per cent of motorists exceeding the speed limit in rural and urban areas, indiscriminate pedestrian activities like hawking, poor road engineering and maintenance, and others.
The Authority called for the amendment of Road Traffic Regulations (LI 2180) for the removal of broken-down vehicles and the automation of traffic enforcement to check speeding.
He emphasised the need for stricter enforcement of road traffic laws, increased road safety education, and improved infrastructure to reduce crashes.
Stakeholders, including the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, transport unions, and civil society groups, are being urged to intensify campaigns on safe driving practices, the use of seatbelts, and responsible motorcycle riding.
Road crashes continue to rank among the top public safety concerns in Ghana, costing the country not only precious lives but also economic resources.
