Ghana Records 2,600 Road Deaths in 11 Months as Police Warn of Rising Festive-Season Risks

Ghana’s road safety crisis has deepened once again as new data from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) shows that 2,600 people have died in road crashes between January and November 2025. The alarming figures were disclosed by Chief Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng, Director of Education, Research and Training at the MTTD, during an interview with Channel One TV.

According to the police, the country recorded over 13,000 road traffic accidents, involving more than 22,000 vehicles within the 11-month period. These crashes left an additional 13,000 people injured, many of them with life-altering disabilities that continue to strain households and the healthcare system.

A deeper look into the data reveals troubling patterns. Out of the 2,600 deaths, a staggering 1,937 were males, while 492 were females, confirming a long-standing trend that young and middle-aged men remain the most vulnerable group on Ghana’s roads. Road safety experts often attribute this to higher risk-taking behaviours among male drivers and riders, especially those operating commercial motorcycles and public transport vehicles.

Pedestrians continue to face serious risks as well. At least 550 pedestrians lost their lives, many of them struck while crossing the road or walking along highways. The police noted that motorcycle-related crashes are a major driver of these fatalities, highlighting concerns about speeding, poor visibility, and inadequate rider training.

The report also comes at a critical time as the country enters the festive travel season, a period historically marked by increased road use and a spike in accidents. The MTTD has therefore issued an urgent call for enhanced vigilance from both drivers and pedestrians. They warn that the combination of increased traffic, night-time travel, and driver fatigue could further worsen the trend if preventive measures are not taken seriously.

Chief Superintendent Obeng stressed that reducing the carnage requires collective responsibility. He urged transport unions, commercial drivers, motorcycle riders, and private motorists to strictly adhere to road regulations. The police are also intensifying enforcement actions, with renewed focus on speeding, drunk-driving, wrongful overtaking, unlicensed motorcycle operations, and failure to use seatbelts and crash helmets.

Beyond law enforcement, road safety analysts argue that Ghana must scale up structural interventions, including better road engineering, improved lighting on highways, expansion of pedestrian facilities, and stronger public education campaigns. They also call for long-term investment in trauma care systems to reduce preventable deaths after crashes occur.

With less than a month to end the year, the police say the latest figures should serve as a national wake-up call. The number of deaths in just 11 months is already dangerously close to previous annual totals, reinforcing concerns that Ghana’s roads remain among the most hazardous in the sub-region.