By Jones Anlimah
The Volta Regional Office of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has expressed concern over the rising number of road crashes and casualties recorded in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
From January to June this year, the region recorded 253 reported crashes, up from 239 in 2024, representing an increase of 14 cases. The number of vehicles involved also rose from 388 to 424, while fatalities increased from 40 to 61. Similarly, 273 people sustained injuries in 2025, compared to 173 during the same period last year.
Pedestrian knockdowns also showed a worrying rise, increasing from 40 in 2024 to 67 in 2025, with 16 pedestrians killed and 51 injured.
Analysis of data from the regional office shows that motorcycles remain the highest contributors, accounting for 48 percent of vehicles involved in crashes, followed by private vehicles at 36 percent and commercial vehicles at 16 percent. Motorcycles were also linked to the majority of injuries and fatalities, with 165 people injured and 32 killed. Men were disproportionately affected, with 79 percent of fatalities being male, compared to 21 percent female.
In response to these troubling figures, the Volta Regional Director of the NRSA, Joana Fafa Ayer, emphasized the shared responsibility of road safety. “So currently the road safety situation in the region is not very encouraging because we are recording more crashes and more deaths. A single life lost is far too many, and we need to work harder to bring these figures down. Road safety is a shared and collective responsibility and everybody has a role to play,” she said.
She urged drivers, riders, passengers, and pedestrians alike to adopt safe practices, stressing that recklessness and indiscipline were fueling crashes.
“If you are a driver, you need to put up best road safety practices, drive carefully, and obey traffic rules and regulations. Passengers must also speak up against recklessness and avoid distracting drivers. Riders should obey traffic rules, and pedestrians must cross at designated points and wear bright-coloured clothes at night to be visible,” Madam Ayer advised.
As the Christmas and New Year season approaches, the NRSA says it is intensifying measures to reduce crashes, given the increased demand for road use during the festive period.
“We are engaging drivers, especially during this time, to be more responsible when there are more passengers. There is no need to rush or compete at lorry terminals. All transport unions are being engaged, and we are working with the Police, DVLA, and other stakeholders to bring sanity to the road environment and ensure people travelling this time are safe,” Madam Ayer explained.
She also called on the travelling public to plan their trips in advance to avoid putting undue pressure on drivers.
“People need to plan their trips and know where they are going and when they aim to get to their destination. Let’s not be in a hurry to force drivers to speed on the journey. Passengers also have the right to report reckless drivers to the police, and in the same way, drivers can report passengers who force them to misbehave on the road,” she stressed.
The NRSA maintains that with discipline, responsibility, and collective action, the Volta Region can look forward to a safer festive season and beyond.
