- Election years see more road crash fatalities in Ghana.
- Political party supporters' reckless driving blamed.
- NRSA launches 'Road Safety Code of Practice' to curb deaths.
- Parties urged to adopt code to prevent unnecessary loss of lives.
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has released alarming data showing a significant increase in road crash fatalities during election years in Ghana. According to the NRSA, the disregard for road traffic regulations by political party supporters during campaign periods is a major contributor to the high number of deaths.
Speeding and overloading of vehicles with party supporters are also identified as key factors leading to the increased carnage on the roads. The data reveals a disturbing trend, with Ghana recording higher numbers of road crashes, injuries, and deaths during election years since 2000.
In 2016, 44 people lost their lives in 100 crashes involving 157 vehicles during the election period in December, representing a 15.6% increase over the same period in 2015. Similarly, in 2020, 44 persons died, while 169 sustained injuries in 155 crashes recorded, an increase of 21.9% over the previous year.
The statistics further show that all but one election year since 2000 recorded higher crashes, injuries, and deaths compared to previous and ensuing years. The NRSA has launched the ‘Road Safety Code of Practice for Political Activities’ to address this issue, requiring political parties to ensure vehicles are roadworthy and driven by qualified drivers.
The code aims to reduce deaths during the election season by mainstreaming road safety practices in campaign strategies. As campaign activities intensify ahead of the December elections, there is a strong call for political parties to adopt the code of practice to prevent unnecessary loss of lives on Ghana’s roads.
