Kumasi: The Ashanti Region has experienced a severe decline in road safety throughout 2025, marked by a significant increase in road crashes, fatalities, and injuries compared to the previous year, as disclosed by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA).
According to Ghana Web, data from January to December 2025 shows that total road crashes rose by 11.1 per cent, escalating from 3,986 in 2024 to 4,430 in 2025. Road traffic fatalities also climbed by 10.5 per cent, with 692 deaths reported in 2025, up from 626 the previous year. The Ashanti region recorded the highest fatality rate among the 16 regions, followed by the Eastern region with 649 deaths. Injuries saw the most dramatic rise, increasing by 13.7 per cent from 4,835 to 5,498.
Kwasi Agyenim Boateng, Ashanti Regional Head of the NRSA, shared these findings with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi, highlighting persistent issues such as lax enforcement of road traffic regulations, inadequate road safety infrastructure, and irresponsible behavior among road users throughout the region.
A detailed analysis of the data reveals that the Ashanti (Central) Police Region, which includes Greater Kumasi and its surrounding areas, recorded the highest number of crashes, accounting for 2,927 incidents in 2025. Although injuries increased by 307 cases, fatalities in this area remained relatively stable, with just one additional death. The region also faced significant pedestrian-related knockdowns and fatalities, particularly in urban areas like Manhyia, Suame, Tafo, Asokwa, Sofoline, and Kwadaso.
Conversely, the Ashanti North Police Region emerged as the deadliest, experiencing a 30.6 per cent rise in crashes and a staggering 64 per cent increase in fatalities, jumping from 104 deaths in 2024 to 171 in 2025. Injuries also rose by 47 per cent. The NRSA attributes this alarming fatality rate to factors such as speeding, inadequate enforcement of road traffic regulations, and pedestrian exposure on rural highways.
Meanwhile, Ashanti South saw a 17 per cent increase in crashes and an additional 110 injury cases, though fatalities slightly declined. Routes such as Yaw Kwei - Juaso and Bekwai - New Edubiase corridors were noted for speeding. Boateng pointed out that the growing use of motorcycles and tricycles continues to challenge road safety efforts in the area.
The data further indicates that motorcycles and tricycles have become major contributors to road crashes, with motorcycle crashes increasing by 22 per cent and tricycle crashes surging by 49 per cent in 2025. Ashanti Central alone recorded 185 additional tricycle crashes, reflecting what the NRSA describes as weak regulation of the rapidly expanding road transport system.
Boateng emphasized the urgent need for targeted road safety enforcement along high-risk corridors in the region, increased road safety education, improved infrastructure, stricter regulation of motorcycles and tricycles, and intensified pre-trip inspections on commercial vehicles to reverse this trend in 2026.