Ghana Intensifies Public Safety Efforts: Nationwide Road Campaign Launched as Accra Disaster Recovery Concludes

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service have launched a comprehensive nationwide sensitization campaign to curb traffic accidents ahead of the 2026 Easter festivities. This initiative, which commenced on March 30 and is scheduled to run through April 7, targets major transit corridors including the Accra–Kumasi, Accra–Cape Coast, and Accra–Aflao highways. The move comes as the country focuses on public safety following the aftermath of recent infrastructure emergencies, including a fatal building collapse in Accra and a narrowly averted fuel disaster in Kpong.

Regarding road safety, Alexander A. Ayatah, Director of Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the NRSA, emphasized that road crashes represent a significant economic burden, costing Ghana approximately 1.6% of its GDP annually. He urged a sense of "collective responsibility," specifically calling on passengers to actively voice concerns when they observe reckless driving behavior. Deputy Superintendent of Police Oppong Kyekyeku noted that the current campaign prioritize education over prosecution, aiming to instill better habits regarding speed limits, seatbelt usage, and motorcycle safety before the peak holiday travel season.

In the capital, recovery operations have officially concluded at the Accra New Town Experimental D/A School following the tragic collapse of an uncompleted four-storey building on March 29. The incident resulted in three fatalities and left 20 others injured. Municipal Chief Executive Rudolf Collingwoode-Williams confirmed that nine victims have already been discharged from the hospital, while 11 others remain under medical care with showing signs of improvement. Deputy Interior Minister Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi praised the swift multi-agency coordination between the Ghana Armed Forces and local emergency services during the rescue and clearing phase.

Further highlighting the importance of emergency preparedness, the Ghana National Fire Service successfully managed a potential catastrophe at the Alinco Filling Station in Kpong. On March 26, a DAF fuel tanker collided with a Renault long vehicle after a motorbike rider made an erratic turn. No injuries were reported as the tanker had already discharged its contents, significantly reducing the fire risk. These combined events underscore a period of heightened vigilance for Ghanaian safety authorities as they work to ensure a secure environment for citizens during the high-risk Easter period.