Road crashes claim nearly 3,000 lives in Ghana in 2025, fatalities jump 18%

Nearly 3,000 people died in road traffic crashes across Ghana between January and December 2025, marking a sharp increase over the previous year, according to provisional data from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA).

The data shows that 2,949 lives were lost in 14,743 crashes during the year, compared with 2,494 deaths recorded from 13,489 crashes in 2024. This represents a 9.3 percent rise in total crashes and a worrying 18.2 percent surge in fatalities, making deaths the fastest-growing indicator among all road safety statistics in 2025.

Vehicle involvement in crashes also increased significantly, with 24,938 vehicles recorded in road traffic incidents in 2025, up from 22,975 in 2024 — an 8.5 percent increase.

Injuries from road crashes rose as well. A total of 16,714 people sustained injuries during the year, compared with 15,607 injured persons in 2024, reflecting a 7.1 percent increase and adding further pressure on health and emergency response systems.

Pedestrians continued to be among the most vulnerable road users. The NRSA data indicates that 2,561 pedestrians were knocked down in traffic crashes in 2025, up from 2,394 in the previous year — a 7.0 percent rise. The trend has renewed concerns about pedestrian safety, particularly in urban centres and high-traffic corridors.