Ofankor crash claims 11 lives, injures 13 • Road indiscipline blamed

Eleven people died and 13 others sustained injuries in a severe multi-vehicle collision at Ofankor in Ghana's Ga North Municipality, located on the Accra-Kumasi Highway. The accident occurred yesterday and involved a complex mix of vehicles, including two tipper trucks, two commercial buses, two saloon cars, and an auto rickshaw known locally as a “Aboboya.”

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In all, we have recorded 24 victims, comprising 11 fatalities and 13 casualties. The injured have already been transported to the hospital by the National Ambulance Service.

Divisional Officer Grade One Emmanuel Bonney of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) confirmed the casualty figures at the scene. He noted that several vehicles were significantly damaged, and some passengers were trapped, requiring rescue by fire service personnel. The injured were subsequently transported to various hospitals by the National Ambulance Service for medical treatment.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a stationary vehicle on the highway may have played a role in the chain reaction collision, although the exact cause is still under official review. Officials highlighted the danger posed by vehicles stopping on a high-speed highway for loading or offloading passengers, calling it a serious safety concern that needs addressing.

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This is a highway where vehicles travel at high speeds. If vehicles stop by the roadside to load or offload passengers, it becomes a serious safety concern. It is something that must be addressed.

Authorities are urging motorists to exercise extreme caution, adhere to traffic regulations, and avoid dangerous driving practices such as speeding and reckless overtaking. The Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Abraham Amaliba, expressed concern over the rising indiscipline on the country's roads, attributing many crashes to distracted driving and risky maneuvers. He stressed the critical need for stricter enforcement of road traffic laws, especially in accident-prone areas, to curb the increasing number of road crashes.

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Although public education on road safety remained important, effective enforcement was essential to reducing the growing number of road crashes across the country.