The Krachi East Municipality, situated in the Oti Region of Ghana, has reported a total of 581 road crashes over the course of last year. This data was revealed by Police Inspector Lawrence Addo, a Staff Officer at the Oti Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

Out of the recorded incidents, 141 vehicles were involved, comprising 109 commercial vehicles, 32 private cars, 48 motor tricycles, and eight bicycles. The consequences of these accidents were dire, with 26 categorized as serious, and 10 as minor, resulting in 150 injuries and sadly, 20 fatalities. Additionally, the Municipality experienced 10 pedestrian knockdowns during the same period.

Inspector Addo attributed over 90% of the crashes to human errors, highlighting issues such as overspeeding and wrongful overtaking as major contributing factors. He emphasized the significant human cost associated with these accidents and stressed the importance of Road Safety compliance.

Efforts to address the situation include the provision of necessary logistics to the MTTD Unit and the implementation of frequent patrols in various communities across the Municipality to enhance road safety. Moreover, Inspector Addo mentioned that the MTTD is actively engaging with drivers and motor rider associations to conduct road safety talks aimed at educating them on the importance of adhering to road safety protocols.

The initiatives underscore a concerted effort by authorities to mitigate road accidents and promote safer road usage within the Krachi East Municipality.