Ghana experienced a deeply troubling year in 2025, marked by a series of devastating transport-related disasters across road, water, and air travel. These incidents claimed hundreds of lives and reignited nationwide discussions on safety standards, enforcement, and infrastructure. Below is a professional review of some of the most significant transport tragedies recorded during the year.
A Rare but Deadly Air Tragedy
The most shocking transport incident of 2025 occurred on August 6, when a helicopter crash claimed the lives of eight people, including two serving government ministers. The tragedy drew intense national attention, not only because of the high-profile victims but also due to the rarity of air transport accidents in Ghana. The incident prompted renewed scrutiny of aviation safety protocols and regulatory oversight.
Road Transport Remained the Deadliest
Despite the severity of the helicopter crash, road transport continued to account for the highest number of fatalities in 2025. Data from the Ghana News Agency (GNA) showed that between January and November, 2,673 people lost their lives in road crashes. This represented an 18.5 per cent increase compared with the same period in 2024, highlighting a worsening road safety situation nationwide.
Kete Krachi Boat Disaster
One of the year’s deadliest water transport incidents occurred on October 11, when a boat capsized on the Volta Lake near Kete Krachi. The tragedy claimed 15 lives, including 11 children aged between two and 14 years. Four adults also died, while four passengers were rescued.
Subsequent investigations by the Ghana Maritime Authority revealed that the boat was overloaded and did not carry life jackets. The incident sparked public outrage and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations on inland waterways.
Church Youth Tragedy on the Accra–Kumasi Highway
Another major tragedy occurred on the Juaso–Nkawkaw stretch of the Accra–Kumasi highway, where 15 members of the Obogu Saviour Church youth group lost their lives. The victims were travelling in a Ford Transit bus that collided head-on with a fuel tanker.
Most of the deceased were children, including the sons and daughters of the church’s head pastor. Preliminary reports indicated that the tanker suffered a tyre burst while overtaking another vehicle, leading to the fatal collision. This incident was widely reported as one of the deadliest road crashes of the year.
Triple-Vehicle Collision in the Central Region
On April 22, eight people were killed in a multiple-vehicle collision at New Ayaase in the Adansi-Fomena District. The accident involved a Sprinter minibus, a long bus, and a saloon car.
Investigations revealed that the Sprinter bus, travelling from Kumasi to Fosu, attempted a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre and collided head-on with an oncoming long bus. The impact forced a Toyota Corolla off the road, once again underscoring the dangers of reckless overtaking on Ghana’s highways.
Fatal Accidents on the Accra–Kumasi Road
The Accra–Kumasi highway recorded several deadly crashes in 2025. On August 26, seven people died at Nkawada No. 2 on the Nkawkaw–Accra stretch when a passenger Sprinter bus collided head-on with a cargo truck. Six passengers died instantly, while a seventh later succumbed to injuries at a hospital. Several others sustained serious injuries.
Earlier in the year, 11 people were confirmed dead following a head-on collision between a fuel tanker and a Sprinter bus at Amanase near Suhum in the Eastern Region. Police reports indicated that the tanker driver veered into the opposite lane, resulting in the deaths of two women and nine men.
Road Traffic Statistics for 2025
According to GNA data, 13,320 road traffic crashes were recorded nationwide between January and November 2025. These incidents involved 22,532 vehicles, including private cars, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles, and resulted in 15,173 injuries.
Compared with the same period in 2024, reported crashes increased by 7.3 per cent, vehicles involved by 6.4 per cent, injuries by 5.7 per cent, and pedestrian knockdowns by 4.7 per cent. Of the total crashes recorded, 47 per cent were classified as minor, 36 per cent as serious, and 17 per cent as fatal.
A total of 2,312 pedestrians were knocked down during the period, with May recording the highest number of cases at 265.
A Year of Painful Lessons
The transport disasters of 2025 exposed significant gaps in enforcement, infrastructure, and public compliance with safety regulations. As the nation reflects on a year marked by grief and loss, these tragedies serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stronger safety measures, improved enforcement, and greater public awareness across all modes of transport to prevent further loss of life.
Source: Yen.com.gh
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