Ghana has recorded 181 pedestrian deaths within the first four months of 2026, raising fresh concerns over road safety and reckless driving across the country.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Joshua Kwasi Quist, described the increasing number of pedestrian knockdowns as a public safety crisis that requires urgent intervention.
According to him, pedestrian knockdown deaths nationwide increased from 590 in 2024 to 704 in 2025, with the situation worsening this year. Out of the 181 pedestrian deaths recorded between January and April 2026, the Greater Accra Region alone accounted for 43 fatalities.
Mr. Quist disclosed this during a joint road inspection tour with the management of the Tema West Municipal Assembly (TWMA).
The inspection, initiated by Tema West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Ludwig Teye Totimeh, took officials through accident-prone residential communities including Sakumono, Kotobabi, Baatsonaa and Global Down to assess ongoing safety interventions following repeated complaints about speeding on inner roads.
The delegation included the Tema West Municipal Roads Engineer, Emmanuel Wordey, and the NRSA Planning Manager for Greater Accra, Charlotte Esi Dadzie.
Mr. Quist expressed concern that between 85 and 90 percent of road crashes were caused by human error, including speeding, wrongful overtaking and driving under the influence of substances such as tramadol and rohypnol.
He urged motorists to prioritise pedestrian safety, stressing that drivers also become pedestrians once they leave their vehicles.
“Drivers must exercise patience and give way to people crossing the road,” he said.
The NRSA Director also commended the Tema West Municipal Assembly for taking proactive steps to implement local road safety measures ahead of the full operationalisation of the District Road Safety Committees framework.
He noted that engineering interventions such as speed humps and pedestrian crossings remained critical in reducing road crashes and influencing driver behaviour.
For his part, Mr. Totimeh said the alarming road crash statistics had compelled the assembly to intensify traffic-calming measures for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
He said the assembly had consistently received complaints about overspeeding in residential communities, with some incidents resulting in fatalities.
According to the MCE, the assembly, with guidance from technical experts, has begun the phased installation of speed humps, rumble strips and zebra crossings across all electoral areas in the municipality.
Mr. Totimeh explained that the Kotta stretch had become a major concern because motorists often sped along the smooth road surface, leading to frequent accidents.
“Before these interventions, we received weekly reports of crashes along the stretch,” he said.
He appealed to motorists to obey road signs and avoid speeding over newly installed rumble strips, warning that reckless driving undermines public investments in road safety infrastructure.
The MCE further urged drivers to be extra cautious around school zones and transport terminals where pedestrian activity is high.
He also encouraged residents to make use of the assembly’s toll-free lines to report road safety hazards, stressing the need for stronger collaboration between citizens and local authorities to improve community safety.
Source: GNA
