Ghana’s roads claimed 1,504 lives in the first half of 2025, a significant surge compared to the same period in 2024.
The staggering figure is part of a broader road safety crisis that also saw 9,868 people suffer varying degrees of injuries from 7,289 crashes reported across the country.
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These road crashes involved 12,354 vehicles of all categories, including private cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles, and bicycles.
The 1,504 fatalities recorded represent a 21.6% increase over the first half of 2024, while the total number of injuries rose by 10.6%. ‘
The number of crashes increased by 9.6%, and the number of vehicles involved rose by 9.5%. Pedestrian knockdowns also went up by 6.8%.
1,179 males, 325 females killed
The gender breakdown of the fatalities reveals that 1,179 of the deceased were males, representing 78% of total deaths.
The remaining 325 victims, or 22%, were females.
This puts the male-to-female fatality ratio at 4:1, consistent with trends in recent years that show a higher rate of traffic deaths among men.
Analysts attribute this pattern to greater exposure of men to traffic environments, either as drivers, commercial riders, or pedestrians navigating busy streets.
1,330 adults, 174 children killed
Further analysis shows that 1,330 of the deceased, or 88%, were adults above the age of 18, while 174 (12%) were children below that age.
This yields a 7:1 death ratio between adults and children, again underscoring how age-related mobility and exposure increase the likelihood of death in a crash.
The disproportionate impact on adults is believed to stem from occupational and commuting patterns that place them in traffic situations far more frequently than children.
Pedestrian knockdowns rise by 6.9%
Pedestrian-related incidents continued to rise during the first half of 2025.
A total of 1,301 pedestrians were knocked down between January and June 2025, representing a 6.9% increase over the 1,219 pedestrian knockdowns recorded in the same period of 2024.
These figures highlight the persistent vulnerability of pedestrians, especially in urban areas with poor road safety infrastructure and minimal enforcement of speed limits near crossings and schools.
Daily statistics
8 lives are lost each day due to road crashes,
40 road crashes occur nationwide daily,
46 people are injured daily in these accidents, and
69 vehicles and motorcycles are involved in road crashes every day.
Crashes by severity: Minor, serious, and fatal
Out of the 7,289 crashes recorded from January to June 2025, 3,441 (47%) were classified as minor, involving property damage without major injury.
Another 2,650 crashes (36%) were designated as serious, while 1,198 crashes (17%) were fatal, leading to deaths on the spot or shortly after.
The significant proportion of serious and fatal crashes continues to strain emergency health services and underscores the urgent need for preventive measures.
February the deadliest month so far
The monthly breakdown of injuries and fatalities shows that February was the most lethal month in the first half of 2025.
It recorded the highest number of deaths at 267 and the highest number of injuries at 1,532.
By contrast, April recorded the lowest injury count at 1,304.
Despite some fluctuations in month-to-month figures, there was a general upward trend in both injuries and fatalities compared to the same period in 2024.
Category of vehicles
Private vehicles constituted the largest share of the vehicles involved in crashes from January to June 2025, accounting for 41% of all cases.
Commercial vehicles followed at 34%, while motorcycles made up the remaining 25%.
When compared to the same period last year, the involvement of commercial vehicles in crashes increased by 8.2%, private vehicles by 4.2%, and motorcycles by a worrying 21.3%.
Though motorcycles comprised the smallest share of all vehicles involved in crashes, the rate at which they are being involved is rising alarmingly.
Analysts warn that the current trajectory of motorcycle crashes—especially with the proliferation of informal commercial motorcycle transport (okada)—requires urgent regulatory and enforcement intervention.
Motorbikes make up 73% of cycles in crashes
An examination of cycle-related crashes from January to June 2025 shows that two-wheeled motorbikes made up 73% of cycles involved in road incidents.
Tricycles followed with 24%, while bicycles and hand carts accounted for 2% and 1% respectively.
Despite their relatively lower presence on roads compared to cars and trucks, the significant number of crashes involving motorcycles is a source of national concern.
The data also suggest that while motorcycles make up only 25% of total vehicles involved in crashes, their high crash involvement is disproportionate to their estimated share of the total vehicle population.
This has led road safety experts to call for a re-examination of motorcycle licensing, rider education, and helmet compliance enforcement.
Urgent call for action
As Ghana navigates the second half of 2025, road safety stakeholders are calling for an urgent scaling-up of interventions. These include stricter law enforcement, better pedestrian infrastructure, improved driver training and vehicle inspections, and a nationwide road safety education campaign targeting motorcyclists and commercial drivers.
The rise in fatalities, particularly among males, pedestrians, and motorcyclists, has turned Ghana’s road carnage into a public health emergency. Without sustained and coordinated national action, the human cost of road traffic crashes will continue to escalate.
