ELEVEN people have been confirmed dead and 13 others injured in a multiple-vehicle crash at Ofankor in the Ga North Municipality on the Accra-Kumasi Highway.
The crash, which occurred yesterday, involved two tipper trucks, two commercial buses, two saloon cars and an auto rickshaw popularly known as “Aboboya”.
Divisional Officer Grade One (DOI) of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Mr Emmanuel Bonney, who disclosed the casualty figures at the scene, said several vehicles were extensively damaged in the crash.
He said some passengers were trapped under the wreckage and had to be rescued by personnel of the GNFS.
The National Ambulance Service subsequently transported the injured victims to various hospitals for medical attention.
Mr Bonney said investigations into the cause of the crash were ongoing in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service.
“In all, we have recorded 24 victims, comprising 11 fatalities and 13 casualties. The injured have already been transported to the hospital by the National Ambulance Service,” he said.
He said preliminary information suggested that a stationary vehicle on the highway might have contributed to the collision, although investigations were yet to establish the exact cause.
“This is a highway where vehicles travel at high speeds. If vehicles stop by the roadside to load or offload passengers, it becomes a serious safety concern. It is something that must be addressed,” he stated.
Mr Bonney advised motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations and avoid dangerous driving practices, including speeding and reckless overtaking.
He said traffic had returned to normal after the accident scene was cleared.
The Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Mr Abraham Amaliba, expressed concern over what he described as increasing indiscipline on the country’s roads.
He attributed many road crashes to distracted driving, including the use of mobile phones while driving, inattention and reckless manoeuvres.
Mr Amaliba stressed the need for stronger enforcement of road traffic laws, particularly at accident-prone locations.
He said although public education on road safety remained important, effective enforcement was essential to reducing the growing number of road crashes across the country.
BY PRINCE ADDO FRIMPONG