Ghana recorded an average of about eight road crash deaths every day between January and September 2026, highlighting the continued toll of road crashes on lives across the country.

The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) recorded 2,151 deaths from 10,157 road crashes reported during the first nine months of the year.

The crashes involved 17,197 vehicles and left 12,230 people with various degrees of injury, according to the MTTD.

The figures mean that an average of about 239 people were killed in road crashes every month during the period, with approximately 1,353 people sustaining injuries each month.

Speaking during an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, Director of Education, Research and Training at the MTTD, ACP Alexander Kwaku Obeng, said the figures were based on crashes reported to the Police across the country’s 25 police regions.

“I have with me data from January to September 2026. These are crashes that have been reported to us in our 25 police regions, and police investigators have responded to support Ghanaians who were trapped in these preventable crashes.

“10,157 crashes were recorded involving 17,197 vehicles. Sustained injuries were also 12,230, and persons who lost their lives in these preventable crashes were 2,151,” he said.

Deaths remain above 2,000

The latest figures show that although road fatalities have declined slightly compared with the same period in 2025, the number of people losing their lives remains above 2,000.

Between January and September 2024, Ghana recorded 1,813 road crash deaths from 9,820 crashes.

The number increased to 2,180 deaths in 2025 from 10,734 crashes.

For the same nine-month period in 2026, fatalities fell marginally to 2,151, while reported crashes declined to 10,157.

Despite the slight improvement, the latest figures mean Ghana has recorded more than 2,000 road crash deaths for two consecutive years.

ACP Obeng has urged motorists and other road users to exercise greater caution and comply with road safety regulations to help prevent crashes.

He said the figures should prompt renewed efforts to improve road safety and reduce the number of crashes and deaths recorded on the country's roads.

Ashanti records highest deaths

Data from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) also shows significant differences in the impact of road crashes across regions.

For the period between January and September 2025, Greater Accra recorded the highest number of crashes at 3,304, followed by Ashanti with 3,215 and the Eastern Region with 1,546.

However, Ashanti recorded the highest number of deaths, with 510 fatalities.

The Eastern Region followed with 449 deaths, while Greater Accra recorded 304 fatalities.

The figures show that a higher number of crashes does not necessarily correspond with the highest number of deaths.

Men make up majority of fatalities

The human cost of road crashes also disproportionately affects men.

According to the NRSA, men accounted for about 80 per cent of road traffic fatalities recorded in 2025.

The authority also reported that nearly nine out of every 10 people killed in road crashes were adults aged 18 years and above.

The figures underscore the significant impact of road crashes on Ghana's working-age population and raise concerns about the wider social and economic consequences of road fatalities.