In the last nine months, 2,151 people have lost their lives in road crashes nationwide, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) has disclosed.

According to the police unit, these crashes occurred between January and September 2026, involving 17,197 vehicles.

Out of the 10,157 road crashes reported nationwide within the first nine months of the year, 12,230 people sustained various degrees of injury during the period, highlighting the devastating impact of road crashes on lives and livelihoods.

Speaking during an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, Director of Education, Research and Training at MTTD, ACP Alexander Kwaku Obeng, explained that the data covered crashes reported to the Police across the country’s 25 police regions, with investigators responding to crash scenes to assist victims and support emergency interventions.

“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.”

According to ACP Obeng, greater compliance with road safety measures could help prevent many of the crashes recorded across the country. He urged motorists and other road users to be more careful and responsible on the roads.

He said the latest figures should serve as a wake-up call to strengthen road safety measures and renew efforts to curb the rising incidence of crashes on Ghana’s roads.

Year-on-year comparisonMeanwhile, a comparison with MTTD data from previous years shows that road fatalities remain high despite a slight improvement this year. Between January and September 2024, Ghana recorded 1,813 road crash deaths from 9,820 crashes.

The situation worsened in 2025, when fatalities surged by more than 20 percent to 2,180 deaths from 10,734 crashes. While the latest figures for 2026 show a marginal decline to 2,151 deaths and 10,157 crashes, the number of lives lost remains significantly higher than the 2024 level, underscoring the country's persistent road safety challenge.

In 2025, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reported that while Greater Accra records the highest number of road crashes, the Ashanti Region has recorded the highest number of deaths.

Between January and May 2025, Greater Accra recorded 1,908 crashes, resulting in 161 deaths. Ashanti recorded 1,850 crashes but had the highest number of fatalities at 325. The Eastern Region recorded 842 crashes and 268 deaths, making it the region with the second-highest number of fatalities during the period.

The trend continued between January and September 2025. Greater Accra recorded 3,304 crashes, followed by Ashanti with 3,215 and the Eastern Region with 1,546.

However, Ashanti recorded the highest number of deaths during the nine months, with 510 fatalities. The Eastern Region followed with 449 deaths, while Greater Accra recorded 304 fatalities.

Gender death records

The human cost of road crashes disproportionately affects adult males. According to the NRSA, men accounted for about 80 per cent of all road traffic fatalities recorded in 2025, while nearly nine out of every 10 persons killed were adults aged 18 years and above.