Ghana’s roads continue to be deadly, with over 2,000 lives lost annually due to road accidents. In response, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), in partnership with Accident Victims Support Ghana, organized the 14th Annual National All Drivers Prayer and Road Safety Summit to confront this national crisis. Held on March 25, 2025, at Accra’s Neoplan Station, the event brought together drivers, transport operators, road safety experts, and religious leaders to push for urgent reforms and behavioral changes on the road.
A Nation in Mourning: Road Carnage in 2024
The summit came on the heels of devastating statistics:
Over 2,000 deaths and 15,000 injuries occurred in road crashes in 2024.
December alone saw 240 deaths and 1,200 injuries—turning a season of celebration into one of grief.
More than 300 children under 18 lost their lives, a tragic reminder of the widespread impact of reckless driving.
Over 5,500 motorbike accidents were recorded, many involving riders without helmets.
Rev. Fr. Andrew Campbell, a guest speaker with over 50 years of driving experience, painted a heartbreaking picture of the human cost of road accidents. “These aren’t just numbers—each statistic represents a shattered family, a lost future, a preventable tragedy,” he lamented.
Prayers and Practical Solutions: A Call for Change
Unlike past editions, this year’s summit balanced spiritual reflection with practical road safety interventions. Religious leaders led prayer sessions for drivers, passengers, and accident victims, while experts offered educational workshops on defensive driving, vehicle maintenance, and responsible road use.
Fr. Campbell outlined five key behaviors that every driver must adopt:
1. Pray before every journey for safety and mindfulness.
2. Always wear seat belts and ensure passengers do the same.
3. Respect pedestrian crossings and traffic lights to protect vulnerable road users.
4. Avoid distractions and alcohol while driving—reckless habits cost lives.
5. Motorcyclists must wear helmets—thousands of preventable deaths occur due to non-compliance.
Tougher Laws & Tech-Driven Enforcement Needed
Beyond personal responsibility, stakeholders at the summit emphasized the need for stricter law enforcement to deter reckless driving. Fr. Campbell called for:
Speed guns and traffic cameras to monitor violations.
Harsher penalties for drunk driving, running red lights, and speeding.
Compulsory defensive driving training for commercial drivers.
The NRSA highlighted innovative technology-based enforcement measures:
Traffic Tech GH: Uses cameras to track and penalize traffic offenders.
Transport Ghana: Registers drivers and transport operators to monitor compliance.
Eye Locator: A digital tool connecting drivers to mechanics and emergency services.
Road Safety Watch: Allows citizens to report road hazards in real time.
Accident Victims Share Their Painful Realities
To drive home the message, survivors of road accidents shared their emotional testimonies, revealing the devastating physical, emotional, and financial toll of crashes. Juliet Koranteng, Executive Director of Accident Victims Support Ghana, emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility. “We must move beyond rhetoric. Every driver must commit to safe practices, and authorities must ensure laws are enforced without compromise,” she said.
A Collective Pledge for Safer Roads
The summit concluded with drivers, transport operators, and policymakers signing a road safety pledge, committing to responsible driving. The NRSA, Accident Victims Support Ghana, Seren Insurance, and JK Horkle Transport reaffirmed their commitment to reducing road carnage through continuous education, enforcement, and advocacy.
As the nation grapples with its road safety crisis, one message was clear: Ghana cannot afford to lose another 2,000 lives next year. The time to act is now.
