National Road Safety Authority Probes Deadly Collisions at Ofankor and Accra-Kumasi Highway Leaving 13 Dead

Ghana’s roads have recorded a tragic surge in fatalities following two separate major accidents on the Accra-Kumasi and Accra-Nsawam highways, resulting in at least 13 deaths and numerous injuries. The most devastating incident occurred at the Ofankor Barrier on the John Teye-Ofankor corridor, where a multi-vehicle pile-up claimed 12 lives. Meanwhile, a collision near the Paradise Restaurant on the N6 highway left one person dead and 14 others seriously injured. The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has launched investigations into both incidents, underscoring a worrying trend of highway safety challenges.

The fatal crash at the Ofankor Barrier involved seven vehicles, including heavy-duty tipper trucks and passenger buses. Preliminary investigations by the NRSA suggest that a broken-down tricycle, locally known as an "aboboyaa," may have triggered the disaster by causing a queue of stationary vehicles. A tipper truck reportedly crashed into the back of the queue at approximately 4:00 a.m., leading to a chain reaction of collisions. Felix Owusu, a representative of the NRSA, confirmed that the authority is working closely with the police to clarify the exact dynamics of the crash and determine if mechanical failure or driver negligence played a primary role.

In a separate event on August 12, the Accra–Kumasi Highway recorded a fatality when a MAN Diesel truck collided with a Toyota Hiace near Paradise Restaurant. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the truck driver veered into the opposite lane while attempting to create space for an overtaking vehicle, leading to a head-on impact. Emergency responders arrived at the scene around 7:30 p.m. to find 14 occupants with varying degrees of injury and one female passenger deceased. The survivors were rushed to nearby medical facilities for urgent care while the police processed the scene to prevent further traffic congestion on the busy N6 route.

Following these tragedies, the NRSA has intensified its calls for motorists to adhere strictly to traffic regulations, particularly the statutory 90km/h speed limit on highways. The Authority emphasized the importance of regular vehicle maintenance and cautioned drivers against making dangerous maneuvers to accommodate overtaking vehicles. As investigations continue, the NRSA reiterated that road safety is a shared responsibility, urging all stakeholders—from tricycle operators to commercial truck drivers—to exercise maximum vigilance to curb the rising tide of road carnage in the country.