Tragedy struck on the Accra-Kumasi Highway on Saturday when a devastating accident claimed the lives of seven people, five males and two females. The victims were traveling from Tamale to Accra in a VIP Bus with registration number GR 7632-24 when the fatal collision occurred.
At approximately 4:30 am, the bus collided with a fuel tanker bearing registration number UE 9644-22 at Obretema, near Suhum. According to eyewitnesses, the fuel tanker veered off its lane and crashed into the bus, causing both vehicles to somersault and land in a ditch.
The impact of the collision was severe, resulting in the instantaneous death of the seven passengers. Personnel from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service swiftly responded to the scene, assisting in the evacuation and retrieval of the bodies.
The retrieved bodies were subsequently deposited at the Suhum Government Hospital. The police, with the assistance of passersby, effectively managed the traffic situation and organized towing trucks to move the mangled vehicles to safety.
Personnel from the National Ambulance Service played a crucial role in conveying injured passengers to the hospital for medical attention. Although the exact number of injured passengers is unclear, reports suggest that several people were rescued from the wreckage.
ADO1 Opare Akonnor, spokesperson for the Suhum Fire Service Command, shared details of the rescue efforts. “We received a call from the police at 04:30 hours and quickly dispatched our team to assist. We rescued several people but cannot confirm the exact number due to the nighttime accident”.
Eyewitnesses who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident shared their accounts with the media, providing firsthand insights into the tragic events.
The police have launched an investigation into the accident and urge the public to inform relatives who may have been expecting loved ones traveling on the bus to come forward for identification.
In a similar incident on the same highway, five people lost their lives in a fatal accident involving a Toyota Hiace mini-bus and a DAF lowbird articulated truck.
Road safety remains a concern in Ghana, with accidents frequently occurring on major highways. The Suhum Motor Transport and Traffic Department’s investigation will aim to determine the cause of this tragic accident and implement measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
