A Kia truck loaded with coconuts ran into a crowd at Agona Asafo in the Agona East District of Ghana’s Central Region, leaving five individuals critically injured with thirteen others sustaining injuries. The victims were reportedly on the streets participating in a float as part of the community’s annual ‘football gala’ when the unfortunate occurred.

This information was disclosed by the Assemblyman for the Agona Asafo Electoral Area while speaking to meading on Saturday, August 30.

“The Kia, heavily loaded with coconuts, failed to stop despite seeing the large crowd and ran into the people celebrating on the street,” he said.

Meanwhile, the victims are at the receiving Agona Swedru Government Hospital.

On Saturday, August 16, a fatal road accident at Asuboi, near Suhum, on the Kumasi–Accra Highway, claimed at least five lives and left seventeen others with severe injuries.

The tragic incident occurred when a Sprinter bus, with registration number GW-5535-24, suffered a tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control and veer off the road.

According to eyewitnesses, the victims died on the spot. About 30 minutes later, emergency services arrived and transported the injured to the Suhum Government Hospital for treatment. Fatal accidents have become rampant across the country; just last week, one in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region claimed four lives, including that of a one-year-old girl.

An accident at Bechem in the Bono Region claimed two lives, including a church leader of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church.

The crash, which occurred on Sunday, August 10, left several others, including children, with injuries. Reports indicate that the victims, who were near Aburaso, were returning from a camp meeting in Kumasi.

The bus carrying them reportedly suffered a tyre fracture that led to a burst, causing the vehicle to somersault.

On Monday, July 28, another tragic road accident on the Atwedie stretch of the Kumasi–Accra Highway resulted in the deaths of sixteen members of the Saviour Church of Ghana.

An accident at Asamankese in the Eastern Region on Wednesday, August 6, claimed one life. Officials are yet to confirm any further casualties. The incident occurred after a tipper truck veered off the road and crashed into shops near the Dukes Filling Station.

According to sources, several individuals sustained injuries. Reports suggest the truck was overspeeding when it veered off the road. “It happened so fast—one moment the road was clear, the next, the truck was crashing into everything in its path,” an eyewitness recounted.

Emergency services reportedly rushed to the scene to rescue trapped victims and provide medical assistance. Police say investigations have commenced into the cause of the crash, with the tipper truck driver assisting in the process. Local officials have also pledged support for the victims.

The deceased in the Atwedie crash were said to be returning from the church’s annual programme in the Eastern Region. Their deaths were confirmed after their bus collided with an oncoming fuel tanker. On Thursday, July 31, all sixteen victims were buried in a single large grave in Obogu by the community and church leadership.

Ghana has recorded a surge in road traffic fatalities. In the first half of 2025, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reported 1,504 deaths, compared to 1,237 fatalities in the same period in 2024, representing a 21.58 percent increase.

According to provisional data released by the NRSA in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), a total of 7,289 road crashes were recorded between January and June this year.

The data shows that 12,354 vehicles were involved in these crashes, with 8,300 individuals sustaining injuries. In addition, 1,301 pedestrians were knocked down nationwide.

The NRSA further indicated that, on average, eight lives are lost daily due to road crashes. Each day, about forty crashes are recorded, forty-six individuals sustain injuries, and sixty-nine vehicles and motorcycles are involved in accidents.

To address the surge, the NRSA has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and enhanced public education.

The Road Traffic Act, 2004, enacted to consolidate and revise the Road Traffic Ordinance of 1952, provides comprehensive regulations on road traffic and road use to enhance safety. Under the Act:

A person who drives dangerously commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction:(a) where no bodily injury, or only minor injury, occurs, to a fine between one hundred and two hundred penalty units, or to imprisonment not exceeding nine months, or both;(b) where aggravated bodily injury occurs, to a fine between two hundred and five hundred penalty units, or imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not more than two years, or both;(c) where death occurs, to imprisonment for not less than three years;(d) where damage to state property occurs, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and compensation for the damage caused, as determined by the Court.

The Court may, upon conviction:(a) order compensation to an injured person or their estate, or(b) withdraw the offender’s licence for a period of not less than three years and not more than five years.

The Act also stipulates that a person who drives without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other road users, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units, or imprisonment not exceeding five years, or both.

Additionally, anyone who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse:(a) causes anything to obstruct a road,(b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer, or cycle, or(c) tampers with traffic equipment in a way that would be obviously dangerous to a reasonable person,commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units, or imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or both.