Ghana News Round-Up: Fatal Highway Crash, Market Fires, and Sanitation Enforcement Drive National Safety Agenda

A tragic road accident on the Accra-Kumasi N6 highway near Konongo-Odumase has left three men dead and twenty others injured, highlighting ongoing concerns over road safety in Ghana. The head-on collision, which occurred near the Rider Iron and Steel Company at Odumasi-Ohene Nkwanta, involved a Mitsubishi Outlander driven by Richmond Kuman and a Benz Sprinter minibus. Emergency services, including the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, responded promptly to the scene to rescue trapped victims and transport the injured to local hospitals. Investigations into the exact cause of the crash are currently underway as authorities work to identify the driver of the Benz Sprinter. Simultaneously, the Ghana National Fire Service has been battling separate blazes across the country. In Accra, a late-night fire on Monday ravaged parts of the Nima Market, destroying several wooden structures and traders' goods. While no casualties were recorded, preliminary investigations suggest an electrical fault may have triggered the inferno, which started around 11:20 p.m. and was contained within hours. In the Western Region, fire crews from the Asankrangwa Fire Station successfully prevented a total loss at a 13-bedroom apartment in Wassa Kwabeng on May 8. Led by ADOII Sylvester Appiah Kubi, the team arrived within 19 minutes of a distress call, utilizing tactical cooling to salvage eight rooms after five had already been consumed by the flames. In a boost to urban sanitation efforts, the Prempeh Assembly District Court in Kumasi has convicted six individuals for illegal waste disposal at the Otumfuo Roundabout in Kejetia. Following a sting operation by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) sanitation task force on May 11, the offenders were fined 100 penalty units (GHS 1,200) each or a 10-day prison sentence. While five of the convicts paid their fines immediately, one individual, Ebenezer Atakorah, was taken into custody to serve his sentence. The KMA has reiterated its commitment to enforcing strict sanitation by-laws to restore Kumasi's status as the "Garden City" and warned of further enforcement operations across the metropolis. On the safety and infrastructure front, the Bono Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Fati Kine Lam, has cautioned boat operators against overloading passengers in fishing communities along the Bui Dam reservoir. During the distribution of over 100 reflective life jackets to the Banda-Bongase community, Mrs. Lam emphasized the importance of monitoring weather conditions and adhering to weight limits to prevent waterborne disasters. Meanwhile, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) have announced scheduled maintenance for Wednesday, May 13, 2026. The planned outages, which will affect the Tema, Accra East, and Volta Regions, are intended to facilitate critical infrastructure upgrades and emergency works at the Ho Bulk Supply Point. These incidents collectively underscore the critical need for heightened public vigilance and adherence to safety protocols across the transport, housing, and environment sectors. From the fatal highways to the bustling markets and water bodies, the response of emergency services remains a vital lifeline, yet the emphasis from officials remains firmly on prevention. As investigations into the recent accidents and fires continue, the public is urged to cooperate with utility providers during maintenance periods and comply with local ordinances to ensure the collective safety and well-being of all citizens.