Three major highways within the city of Accra have seen 3,424 car crashes between 2015 and 2020, killing 217 persons.
The highways are the N1 which stretches from Tetteh Quarshie to Mallam Junction, the N4 which also begins at the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange in Accra and runs through Adenta, Koforidua and Asokore to join the N6 which also starts from the Nsawam road junction off the N1 in Accra and runs through Nsawam, Nkawkaw and Ejisu to Kumasi.
This was revealed in the annual report on road safety from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly in partnership with the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS).
N1 highway – 1765 road crashes, 124 deaths
The report indicated that the N1 highway is the major national highway in Accra that recorded the most fatalities and serious injuries. The number of reported crashes on the stretch was 1765, out of which124 people died.
Over 80 per cent of reported deaths on the stretch occurred in 2019 and 2020. Road crashes also increased on the highway by 21 per cent from 2019 to 2020.
25 died in 2015 on N1
In 2015, the N1 highway witnessed 396 total road crashes and some 25 persons lost their lives. The remaining sustained serious injuries.
10 deaths recorded in 2016 on N1
About 10 people died on the N1 highway in 2016. Some 140 road crashes also occurred within the year.
Nine died in 2017 on N1
Out of the 45 road crashes that occurred on the N1 stretch, about nine persons lost their lives while the remaining sustained injuries.
12 died in 2018 – N1
The data revealed that 52 crashes occurred on the stretch. However, 12 persons lost their lives.
22 deaths in 2019 – N1
Five hundred and thirteen serious injuries were recorded on the NI. About 22 deaths were recorded in the year.
46 died in 2020 – N1
The year recorded the highest mortality rate. It saw 46 people die from the 619 road crashes that occurred on the stretch.
N4 highway – 425 road crashes, 32 deaths
The findings revealed that the N4 which begins from the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and runs through Adenta, Koforidua and Asokore recorded 425 crashes and 32 mortalities over the six years.
18 deaths in 2015 – N4
In 2015, about 18 people were reported to have lost their lives due to car crashes. The year saw 62 persons involved in car crashes on the stretch.
No death in 2016 – N4
There was good news in 2016 as no one lost his or her life due to car crashes. Some 12 people were involved in serious car crashes, but no death was recorded.
Four died in 2017- N4
The number of crashes on this highway in the year 2017 was 17. Out of this, about four people died.
Four deaths recorded in 2018 – N4
Deaths on this major highway in 2018 numbered four. However, about 20 cases of road crashes were brought to the attention of the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS).
Four mortalities recorded in 2019 – N4
Even though the number of deaths still stood at four over one year, the number of car crashes rose to 156. This happened despite various road safety campaigns over the period.
Two die in 2020 – N4
The number of deaths as a result of car crashes was reduced to two people. However, the car crash incidents increased by two over the previous year, recording 158 crashes on this major highway.
N6 highway – 1,234 road crashes, 61 deaths
The report also revealed that the N6 is the second national highway in Accra that recorded crashes and serious injuries. The number of reported crashes on the stretch was 1,234, out of which 61 people died.
20 die in 2015 – N6
In 2015, the N6 highway witnessed 210 total road crashes; some 20 persons lost their lives. The remaining sustained injuries.
Seven deaths recorded in 2016 – N6
About seven people died on the N6 highway in 2016. Some 94 road crashes occurred in the year under review.
Five died in 2017- N6
Out of the 26 road crashes that occurred on the N6 stretch, about five persons lost their lives while the remaining sustained injuries.
Eight die in 2018 – N6
The data revealed that 31 crashes occurred on the stretch. Nevertheless, eight persons lost their lives.
12 deaths in 2019 – N6
Four hundred and thirty-three serious injuries were recorded on the stretch. About 12 deaths were recorded in the year.
Nine died in 2020 – N6
Nine people died from the 440 road crashes that occurred on the stretch
SOURCE: The Finder