Road crashes: NRSA rallies stakeholders as deaths hit 2,151 in 2026

Ghana recorded 2,151 road crash deaths between January and September 2026, with 10,157 crashes leaving another 12,230 people injured, as the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) seeks stronger collaboration among state agencies, transport operators and other stakeholders to curb the country’s worsening road safety crisis.

The figures, released by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, underline the urgency of coordinated interventions to prevent avoidable deaths and injuries on the country’s roads.

Against this backdrop, the NRSA, under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport, convened a stakeholder breakfast meeting at the Coconut Grove Hotel on October 14 to discuss practical measures to reduce road traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries.

The meeting brought together representatives from government ministries, road infrastructure agencies, the MTTD, transport unions, civil society organisations, road safety advocates and the media to explore ways to strengthen enforcement, improve road safety interventions and secure institutional commitments to saving lives.

The engagement comes after Ghana recorded a devastating 2,949 road crash deaths in 2025, the highest annual figure reported in 35 years, according to data from the NRSA. The country recorded 14,743 crashes that year, involving 24,938 vehicles and resulting in 16,714 injuries.

The 2025 fatalities represented an 18.2 per cent increase over the 2,494 deaths recorded in 2024, while reported crashes rose by 9.3 per cent from 13,489. Injuries also increased by 7.1 per cent, from 15,607 in 2024 to 16,714 in 2025.

The latest available figures for 2026 show that road crashes continue to exact a heavy toll. Between January and September, the police recorded 10,157 crashes involving 17,197 vehicles, with 2,151 people killed and 12,230 injured.

Although the nine-month 2026 figures cannot be directly compared with the full-year 2025 totals, they demonstrate the scale of the road safety challenge facing the country. A separate NRSA comparison for January to April also showed that crashes increased from 4,779 in 2025 to 4,899 in 2026, representing a 2.5 per cent rise. At least 1,009 people were killed in crashes during the first four months of 2026.

The consequences extend beyond the statistics, affecting families, livelihoods and communities, while placing additional demands on emergency responders and health facilities.

Stakeholders at the October 14 meeting examined the need for a coordinated, multi-sectoral response, recognising that the responsibility for road safety cannot rest with the NRSA or the police alone.

Government agencies responsible for road infrastructure, law enforcement bodies, transport unions, vehicle operators and other road users all have roles to play in preventing crashes and improving compliance with traffic regulations.

The discussions also focused on strengthening collaboration and obtaining concrete institutional commitments to ensure that road safety interventions translate into measurable improvements rather than remaining limited to public education and periodic campaigns.

The rising fatalities have renewed concerns about driver behaviour, speeding, reckless overtaking, impaired driving and other violations that contribute to road crashes. The NRSA has previously identified reckless driving and overspeeding as major factors behind the increase in fatalities, while also acknowledging the contribution of poor road conditions and inadequate enforcement resources.

In January 2026, NRSA Director-General Abraham Amaliba attributed the previous year’s rise in crashes largely to reckless driving and overspeeding, arguing that responsible driving could help reduce casualties even where road conditions were poor.

The Authority has also called for stronger enforcement, adequate resources for road safety programmes and greater accountability among drivers, vehicle owners and transport operators.

The October 14 engagement therefore sought to reinforce a shared commitment among the participating institutions to tackle the problem through practical, coordinated action.

With thousands of crashes and more than 2,000 deaths already recorded in the first nine months of 2026, the challenge for the relevant agencies is to turn stakeholder discussions into sustained enforcement, safer road infrastructure and more responsible behaviour by all road users.

The ultimate objective is to reduce preventable crashes, protect lives, and make Ghana’s roads safer for motorists, passengers, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

EA