The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), in partnership with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), has commemorated this year’s World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims with a renewed call for urgent measures to reduce the rising toll of road deaths in Ghana.

Observed under the theme “Lost Talents,” the event honoured individuals who have died or suffered severe injuries on the roads and urged stronger support for families affected by crashes.

The theme underscores the profound loss of potential, innovation and contributions that society suffers whenever lives are cut short on the roads.

Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the NRSA, Mr Martin Afram said the global remembrance day provides Ghana with an important moment to reflect on the human cost of road crashes.

He disclosed that road fatalities in the country increased by 20 percent between January and September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. As of September, Ghana had recorded 2,180 deaths and more than 12,000 serious injuries.

Mr. Afram noted that Ghana continues to lose about eight people daily to road crashes—individuals who were family members, colleagues and friends—and stressed that their memories must inspire bold action.

He added that road crashes remain a major global health concern, contributing to 1.3 million deaths and up to 50 million injuries every year, with Africa recording the highest fatality rate.

He further revealed that Ghana loses an estimated 1.6 percent of its GDP annually to road crashes, and highlighted that men constitute about 75 percent of road traffic fatalities, often leaving families without breadwinners.

According to him, road crashes are preventable because the risk factors are well known: speeding, drunk driving, unsafe vehicles, non-use of seatbelts, weak enforcement and poor road conditions.

He underscored the urgency of improving post-crash care through stronger ambulance services, trained emergency responders and well-equipped hospitals.

Victims and their families, he added, also require psychological and legal assistance, which he described as fundamental rights.

He appealed to religious leaders to intensify advocacy for responsible road behaviour, urged drivers to obey speed limits and avoid fatigue, alcohol and distractions, and encouraged pedestrians to use footbridges and reflective clothing at night.

He stressed that motorcyclists must always wear helmets and comply with traffic rules.

The National Chairman of the Alcohol Policy Alliance–Ghana (GhanAPA), Benjamin Anabila, highlighted his organisation’s efforts since 2018 to reduce alcohol-related harm through advocacy and policy engagement.

He said GhanAPA has worked closely with key institutions—including the Ministry of Health, FDA, GHS, the Mental Health Authority, NRSA and WHO—to support the implementation of the National Alcohol Policy.

Mr. Anabila noted that the group contributed to the drafting of the National Alcohol Control Regulations and continues to push for their passage by Parliament.

He described the World Day of Remembrance as not only a moment to mourn but also a call to action, revealing that 1,937 people were killed and 10,957 injured in 9,626 crashes in the first eight months of 2025.

He explained that alcohol contributes to an estimated 27 percent of global road traffic injuries and remains a major preventable cause of crashes in Ghana.

To address this, he called for a reduction in Ghana’s permissible blood alcohol concentration limit from 0.08 to 0.02 and urged Parliament to expedite work on the Draft Alcohol Control Regulations.

Mr. Anabila stressed that every life and every journey matter, and insisted that preventable deaths must strengthen Ghana’s commitment to taking decisive action to save lives.