Road deaths in Ghana have sharply increased in 2026, despite intensified awareness and enforcement efforts, according to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA).
Mr. Joshua Quist reported that fatalities rose from 261 in January 2025 to 383 in January 2026, with Greater Accra experiencing a more than twofold increase—from 21 to 50 deaths over the same period.
The NRSA attributed the surge primarily to human factors, including speeding, wrongful overtaking, overloading, drunk and drug-impaired driving, and driver fatigue. Officials stressed that persistent unsafe behaviour among motorists continues to undermine public education campaigns carried out across schools, religious institutions, transport terminals, and media platforms.
During a six-day Visibility Programme concluding at the Kasoa Toll Booth, the NRSA, in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), conducted road user sensitisation and enforcement actions, including the removal of unapproved auxiliary lights on vehicles.
Superintendent Stella Ewool called on drivers to strictly adhere to traffic regulations and urged passengers to actively ensure compliance.
The NRSA reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing enforcement, community outreach, and engaging influential road safety ambassadors to change driver behaviour and reduce accidents nationwide.
