The Oti Region recorded 41 road crashes between January and September 2024, involving 53 vehicles, including 20 commercial vehicles, 10 private cars, and 23 motorcycles. These incidents resulted in 10 deaths and 78 injuries, a marked increase from the previous year.
According to Ms. Theresa Agyeman, Acting Regional Head of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), speeding and wrongful overtaking, particularly by motorcyclists, were key contributors to the rise in accidents. Motorcycles were involved in 43.4% of crashes, followed by commercial vehicles at 37.74%, and private vehicles at 18.87%.
August saw the highest number of crashes with eight, while April and July recorded the highest fatalities, with three deaths each. Alarmingly, pedestrian knockdowns also rose sharply, with nine cases reported, a 125% increase from 2023.
To combat the issue, the NRSA has partnered with police to intensify road safety campaigns and educate motorcyclists about helmet use and the dangers of reckless riding. In light of upcoming elections, the NRSA has also revised road safety codes to promote safer practices during political campaigns.
