Accra: A report from the National Road Safety Authority revealed that road accidents claimed the lives of 1,937 individuals between January and August 2025. Out of the 16,348 vehicles involved in these accidents, 10,957 people sustained injuries, and a total of 9,626 accident cases were reported.
According to Ghana News Agency, the breakdown of the vehicles involved included 5,515 commercial vehicles, 6,647 private vehicles, and 4,186 motorcycles. Mr. Abraham Amaliba, the Acting Director-General of NRSA, shared these statistics during a visit by Mrs. Dorcas Affo-Toffey, the Deputy Minister of Transport, who was touring the Authority to understand their operations better.
The Deputy Minister also visited the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) and the Driver, Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA). Mr. Amaliba highlighted that speeding contributed to over 80 percent of motorists exceeding the speed limit in both rural and urban areas. Other contributing factors included indiscriminate pedestrian activities like hawking, and poor road engineering and maintenance.
The Authority has called for amending the Road Traffic Regulations (LI 2180) to facilitate the removal of broken-down vehicles and implement automated traffic enforcement to curb speeding. Looking ahead, Mr. Amaliba emphasized the need to intensify road safety education and integrate road safety into the activities of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
He also noted the importance of improving motorcycle rider safety through the use of crash helmets and protective clothing. However, he pointed out that inadequate funds for implementing road safety measures and financial clearance for replacing exiting staff remain challenges, urging government intervention.
The Deputy Minister praised the Authority’s efforts in promoting road safety and assured them of the Ministry’s support to reduce road crashes in the country. At the GRDA, Dr. Frederick Apoh, the Acting Chief Executive, announced that railway operations from the Tema to Mpakadan stretch would commence on October 1, 2025. The ongoing projects, including the Tema-Nsawam and Takoradi-Nsuta railways, are expected to create employment opportunities for the youth.
Meanwhile, at the DVLA, Mr. Julius N. Kotey, the Acting Chief Executive, stated that the Authority’s sticker implementation had significantly increased its revenue, with about 12,000 stickers issued, up from the previous 2,000. He also announced plans to change all number plates in 2026 to meet global standards and highlighted the introduction of systems to enhance efficiency at various offices across the country.
Mrs. Affo-Toffey assured the agencies of government support to continue improving service delivery and resetting the country.