Ghana's Road Safety Authority Urges Government to Expedite Highway Dualisation

Strategic Insights -

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has emphasized the need for the government to accelerate the dualisation of Ghana's major highways to mitigate fatal head-on collisions and enhance road safety nationwide. Mrs. Pearl Adusu Sateckla, the NRSA's Public Relations Officer, attributes the success of dual carriageways in reducing crash rates to their ability to prevent fatal errors such as overtaking misjudgments, distracted driving, and fatigue-related lane departures. Single-carriage highways, on the other hand, pose a significant risk due to the likelihood of drivers veering into oncoming lanes, often resulting in head-on collisions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NRSA has identified the Nsawam-Suhum-Nkawkaw stretch of the Accra-Kumasi highway as a success story in road safety, with a significant drop in crash rates since dualisation. (Source: Ghana News Agency)
  • Dual carriageways reduce the likelihood of fatal errors such as overtaking misjudgments, distracted driving, and fatigue-related lane departures, making them a crucial component of road safety infrastructure. (Source: NRSA's Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Pearl Adusu Sateckla)
  • Single-carriage highways are inherently dangerous due to the risk of drivers veering into oncoming lanes, often resulting in head-on collisions. (Source: Mrs. Pearl Adusu Sateckla, NRSA)
  • Critical corridors in the Ashanti, Eastern, and Savannah Regions are prioritized for dual carriageway development, given their strategic role in linking the southern and northern parts of Ghana, as well as neighboring countries. (Source: Mrs. Pearl Adusu Sateckla, NRSA)
  • Insufficient funding and misallocation of national resources are major concerns for infrastructure projects, resulting in delays and compromised road safety. (Source: Mrs. Pearl Adusu Sateckla, NRSA)
  • The Ashanti Region recorded the most deaths (325) and the highest number of crashes (1,850) in January to May 2025, while the Savannah Region experienced the highest percentage increase in crash incidents (52%). (Source: NRSA's National Road Traffic Crash and Casualty Situation Statistics report)
  • Targeted enforcement along high-risk corridors, sustained education, and investment in infrastructure improvements are necessary to address the root causes of road crashes. (Source: Mrs. Pearl Adusu Sateckla, NRSA)

Statistics:

  • 1,908 crashes were recorded in the Greater Accra Region in January to May 2025, but it ranked third in fatalities (161). (Source: NRSA's National Road Traffic Crash and Casualty Situation Statistics report)
  • The Ashanti Region recorded 1,850 crashes and 325 fatalities, ranking second in both categories. (Source: NRSA's National Road Traffic Crash and Casualty Situation Statistics report)
  • The Savannah Region experienced a 52% increase in crash incidents, while the Northern Region recorded a 51.16% decrease. (Source: NRSA's National Road Traffic Crash and Casualty Situation Statistics report)
  • The Northeast Region saw a 277.3% increase in injuries, while the Northern Region recorded a 71.3% drop. (Source: NRSA's National Road Traffic Crash and Casualty Situation Statistics report)

Sources:

  • Ghana News Agency
  • NRSA's Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Pearl Adusu Sateckla
  • NRSA's National Road Traffic Crash and Casualty Situation Statistics report