Ghana is facing a deepening road safety crisis, Member of Parliament for Asante Akim South, Mr. Kwaku Asante-Boateng, has warned, following a harrowing crash that claimed the lives of 16 young congregants from the Obogu Saviour Church.
The tragedy occurred on Monday, July 28, along the Atwedie–Juaso stretch of the Accra–Kumasi Highway—a route the MP described as a “recurring death trap.” A DAF XF fuel tanker, while attempting a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre, collided head-on with a Ford Transit mini-bus returning from a youth conference in the Eastern Region. The impact left entire families devastated.
Among the victims were the children of the church’s Head Pastor and another parent—three each—while two other families lost two children apiece. Four survivors remain in critical condition at Juaso Government Hospital.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Mr. Asante-Boateng said the crash was not an isolated incident, but part of a disturbing national trend. He cited previous fatalities on the same stretch, including the 2016 death of NDC parliamentary candidate William Ocloo, Asante Kotoko player Jerry Adjei, and a dispatch rider in a parliamentary convoy in 2022.
“What we are witnessing is not just bad luck—it is a systemic failure to prioritise road safety,” he declared.
The MP revealed alarming new statistics showing that road fatalities in Ghana surged by 21.6%, rising from 1,237 deaths in the first half of 2024 to 1,504 in the same period in 2025.
“This should alarm us all. It’s a national emergency,” he added.
In response, he called for a multi-agency overhaul of road safety enforcement, urging the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), and other bodies to immediately:
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Install speed bumps in high-risk zones
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Deploy speed cameras to deter reckless driving
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Expand critical road sections like the Atwedie–Juaso stretch
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Roll out a national road safety awareness campaign
Mr. Asante-Boateng further proposed the establishment of a dedicated task force with clear timelines to monitor the implementation of safety measures.
He challenged his colleagues in Parliament to treat the loss of the 16 young lives as a turning point.
“We cannot wait for another mass funeral before we act. This is our moment to make roads safer for every Ghanaian,” he said, pledging his full support to any initiative that would save lives.
