Ghana is losing an average of eight people every day to road crashes, a member of the Public Accountability Committee of the Ghana Institute of Engineers (GhIE), Ing Dr Charles Kwarteng Asafo-Adjei, has disclosed.

He said the figure represents an increase from the estimated daily average of six deaths recorded between 2001 and 2003, pointing to a worsening road safety situation.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, August 27, 2026, Dr Asafo-Adjei attributed the rising fatalities partly to increasing demand for road transport, deteriorating road infrastructure and inadequate maintenance.

“In the past, between 2001 and 2003, an average of about six people died each day. Currently, I think it is around eight, and with the high demand for transport, it is getting worse,” he said.

He said the current rate translates into roughly 2,000 to 3,000 deaths annually, without accounting for the many others who suffer injuries or permanent disabilities from crashes.

“Every day, about eight people are dying. If you multiply that by the number of days in a year, we are already talking about 2,000 to 3,000 people dying annually,” he stated.

Dr Asafo-Adjei was speaking on Ghana’s road infrastructure and public safety following the GhIE’s latest infrastructure scorecard, which rated the country’s road safety E2, placing it close to the lowest performance category.

He said the impact of road crashes was also being felt in the country’s hospitals, which are under increasing pressure from victims requiring emergency and long-term care.

“The hospitals are under pressure. If you go to any of the wards and really want to understand, the evidence is in the hospitals,” he said.

According to him, hospital data could also help authorities identify crash-prone locations and dangerous road sections and guide targeted interventions.

Dr Asafo-Adjei called for improved road maintenance, stronger enforcement of traffic regulations and sustained public education to reduce road fatalities.

He also urged authorities to pay particular attention to the movement of motorcycles and vehicles along high-risk corridors, stressing the need for coordinated action to address Ghana’s road safety crisis.