According to a Road Traffic Crash and Casualty Situation report, 174 individuals tragically lost their lives in road crashes in January 2024. However, this figure represents a slight decrease of 3.33% compared to the 180 deaths recorded in January 2023.
The report further breaks down the fatalities by gender, indicating that 146 males (84% ) and 28 females (16% ) died in road crashes during January 2024. This data reflects a consistent trend over the years, with a higher number of male fatalities compared to females, with a ratio of 1:5.
Among the fatalities, 16 individuals (9%) were below 18 years old, while 158 (91%) were adults above 18 years. This highlights a concerning statistic that for every 10 adults killed in road crashes, one child was also killed, emphasizing a relatively higher death ratio for adults compared to children.
The report also notes a total of 1,142 reported cases during the period, involving 1,991 vehicles and 217 pedestrian knockdowns. Private vehicles accounted for the largest proportion of vehicles involved in crashes (45.30%), followed by commercial vehicles (32.85%), and motorcycles (21.85%).
In terms of regional distribution, the Greater Accra Region reported the highest number of crashes (393) but ranked third in fatalities (29 deaths). The Ashanti Region recorded the highest number of fatalities (39 deaths) despite reporting 311 crashes. The Eastern Region ranked third in the number of crashes (156) and second in deaths (35 deaths).
Overall, while there has been a slight decrease in fatalities compared to the previous year, the report underscores the ongoing challenges and risks associated with road traffic crashes, particularly among adult males and in certain regions of the country. Efforts to address road safety and reduce fatalities remain crucial in ensuring the well-being of all road users.