The Savannah Regional Directorate of the National Road Safety Authority has sounded the alarm over a sharp rise in road traffic fatalities, calling for intensified enforcement, public education, and infrastructure improvements to curb the growing menace.
Addressing a stakeholder meeting on road safety performance, the Regional Director, Abdul-Rahman Safianu, described the situation as deeply troubling, revealing that while reported crashes increased marginally from 63 in 2024 to 64 in 2025, fatalities surged by 43 percent. Reported injuries, however, declined by 15 percent.
He noted that the rise in deaths suggests that crashes are becoming more severe, particularly when high-occupancy vehicles are involved. He cited the recent Alepo crash as an example of how a single incident can significantly increase fatality figures within a short period.
Mr. Safianu attributed the trend to persistent indiscipline among road users, including speeding, reckless overtaking, drink- and drug-driving, non-use of seatbelts and helmets, and the growing involvement of unlicensed and underage riders. He also pointed to weak and inconsistent enforcement in parts of the region.
In addition, he highlighted infrastructural challenges such as narrow carriageways, lack of sidewalks, poor road geometry, inadequate signage, and insufficient street lighting, which collectively heighten crash risks, especially at night and during adverse weather conditions.
The Director acknowledged that 2025 was marked by logistical and operational constraints that limited the Authority’s ability to sustain public education campaigns and enforcement visibility across high-risk corridors. Despite these setbacks, he said officers remained committed to delivering road safety interventions.
To reverse the trend, the Authority is advocating stronger and more consistent enforcement of traffic laws, targeted behaviour-change campaigns focusing on speeding and substance abuse, and low-cost engineering interventions such as speed humps, rumble strips, improved signage, pedestrian crossings, and better lighting on critical roads, including the Canteen Road.
Mr. Safianu emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility, urging collaboration among the Ghana Police Service, transport unions, local authorities, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, and the media to ensure sustained compliance and advocacy.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Yakubu Yussif Castro, described the exercise as more than a symbolic event, stressing that it reflects a collective commitment to safeguarding lives and promoting discipline on the roads.
He reaffirmed the Assembly’s collaboration with the National Road Safety Authority and the Ghana Police Service to strengthen enforcement and public education. He also raised concerns about unmoving vehicles parked along roads due to limited space, creating traffic hazards.
To address the challenge, the Assembly has acquired a four-hectare parcel of land to construct a new car park through its Internally Generated Funds (IGF). When completed, the facility is expected to ease congestion and ensure smoother traffic flow.
The MCE further called for the removal of traders occupying walkways, noting that their presence forces pedestrians to compete with vehicles and motorcycles on the road, increasing the risk of accidents. He stressed that enforcement of road laws is not intended to punish but to protect lives.
Both speakers urged residents, drivers, parents, and transport operators to prioritize road discipline, emphasizing that while infrastructure gaps remain, speeding, overloading, and disregard for traffic regulations are choices that can be changed through coordinated action and political will.
Source: kashafmonline.com
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