The Transport Minister has described Ghana’s road traffic situation as a national crisis, citing the number of lives lost and people injured through road crashes each year.
Member of Parliament for Saboba, Honourable Joseph Bukari Nikpe, made the observation while addressing a national sensitisation programme on the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1153) and Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519). He indicated that the scale of casualties requires renewed attention to road safety and responsible conduct by all road users.
Honourable Nikpe disclosed that 2,949 people died in road crashes in 2025. He also disclosed that the fatalities resulted from 14,743 reported crashes, which also left more than 16,000 people injured.
“Road traffic crashes have caused unacceptable loss of lives, injuries, and immense economic distress for countless families. In 2025 alone, 2,949 of our compatriots died on the roads. This is about eight people every single day.”
Honourable Joseph Bukari Nikpe
Beyond the fatalities, the Transport Minister revealed that close to 25,000 vehicles were involved in the reported crashes during the year. He added that the cumulative toll stretches much further back, with more than 36,000 Ghanaians losing their lives in road crashes since 1991.
Honourable Nikpe used the figures to illustrate the magnitude of the national loss, comparing the number of people killed over the years to the population of towns in Ghana. He stressed that the statistics represent families and communities that have lost members, breadwinners and loved ones.
Moreover, the Transport Minister linked road crashes to significant economic consequences for affected households. He noted that injuries and deaths can disrupt livelihoods while placing additional financial and emotional pressure on families.
Against this backdrop, Honourable Nikpe called for greater commitment to road safety as Ghana implements the amended road traffic legislation and new regulations. He indicated that legislation alone cannot resolve the problem unless road users complement the legal framework with responsible behaviour.
The Saboba MP therefore urged motorists, riders, pedestrians and other road users to recognise their individual responsibilities in reducing crashes. He explained that adherence to traffic rules remains essential to protecting lives and reducing the human and economic costs associated with road accidents.
Additionally, Honourable Nikpe emphasised that the persistent casualty figures should encourage collective action from government agencies, transport operators, unions and the public. He noted that reducing road deaths requires consistent compliance, public education and greater respect for road safety measures.
Road Traffic Regulations Ought To Be Respected
The Transport Minister And Member of Parliament for Saboba, Honourable Joseph Bukari Nikpe has urged operators of commercially approved motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles to comply strictly with road traffic regulations, warning that reckless conduct could endanger their lives and those of other road users.
The Transport Minister explained that the legalisation of commercial operations involving the vehicles comes with a responsibility to demonstrate discipline and safety on the roads.
Honourable Nikpe noted that some Ghanaians had questioned the decision to permit the vehicles for commercial activities. He therefore challenged operators to use the opportunity to demonstrate that the legislation can support livelihoods without creating additional dangers on the roads.
According to the Transport Minister, proving critics wrong should not involve arguments but responsible conduct and productive work. He stressed that earning a living through the newly approved commercial operations must go hand in hand with respect for established traffic rules.
“You cannot break road traffic regulations and think that you are skillful on the roads. It’s a risk you are taking, and that risk can lead to loss of lives and injuries.”
Honourable Joseph Bukari Nikpe
Furthermore, Honourable Nikpe reminded riders that their safety extends beyond their individual welfare because families and the national economy depend on their continued contribution. He noted that commercial operators form part of the manpower Ghana requires for economic development.
The Saboba MP consequently urged transport unions and riders to embrace the opportunity to improve their conduct. He explained that responsible use of the vehicles would help demonstrate the value of the legislative change while protecting passengers, pedestrians and other motorists.
Additionally, the Transport Minister linked compliance with traffic regulations to the broader objective of making the roads safer for everyone. He cautioned that technical skill or confidence on the road cannot justify behaviour that places other people at risk.
Honourable Nikpe therefore called on operators to treat the new legal framework as an opportunity to build a responsible commercial transport sector. He stressed that compliance should become part of their daily operations as the government works with transport unions and other stakeholders to implement the amended law.
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