At least 12 people have lost their lives, while two others remain in critical condition following a deadly collision involving a commercial minibus and a trailer at Akomadan in the Offinso North District of the Ashanti Region.

The tragic accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon near the premises of the Offinso North District Assembly.

According to reports, the commercial vehicle was travelling from Kumasi to Wenchi ahead of the Eid celebrations, while the trailer was heading in the opposite direction from Techiman towards Kumasi.

Confirming the incident, Akomadan District Police Commander, DSP Paul Boabeng Donkor, said preliminary investigations indicate that the driver of the minibus attempted to overtake another vehicle but moved into the lane of the oncoming trailer, resulting in the crash.

Medical Superintendent of the Nkenkaasu Government Hospital, Dr. Samuel Freeman Mensah, disclosed that 11 victims were pronounced dead upon arrival at the facility.

He added that another passenger died while being transferred to Techiman for emergency medical attention.

According to Dr. Mensah, two survivors are currently receiving treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.

He also appealed to the public, particularly families with relatives believed to have travelled to Wenchi for Eid festivities, to visit the hospital to help identify the deceased.

The bodies of the victims have been deposited at the hospital morgue pending identification and further procedures.

Meanwhile, police have removed the wrecked vehicles from the road to restore traffic flow and have commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.

The tragedy has once again sparked concerns over dangerous overtaking and road safety on the busy highway stretch.