Accra, Ghana — Rising concerns about safety on the perilous Accra–Kumasi highway have prompted sharp criticism directed at former President John Dramani Mahama. Yaw Opoku Mensah, spokesperson for Education Minister Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has condemned the government for neglecting critical infrastructure, referring to the road as a “death trap” due to its deteriorating state.
Mensah emphasized that the president bears responsibility for the increasing death toll resulting from road accidents, which could have been mitigated with better maintenance and infrastructure investments. “Road safety should be a priority,” he said. “Properly constructed roads are essential for protecting the lives of drivers, passengers, and everyone on the road.”
He expressed frustration over the abandonment of several bypass projects that were initiated under the previous administration, which has exacerbated the dangers faced by travelers. “The delays in completing these critical projects have essentially turned daily commutes into life-threatening endeavors,” Mensah added.
Statistics from the National Road Safety Authority highlight the gravity of the situation: Ghana recorded 2,949 road fatalities in 2025 alone, with over 14,700 accidents occurring nationwide. The Accra–Kumasi stretch has been particularly notorious, claiming a striking number of lives compared to other routes.
Early figures from this year indicate that the trend is worsening, with a series of recent accidents resulting in serious injuries and fatalities, reinforcing calls for immediate action. Mensah argued that these tragedies are not mere coincidences but are the result of government inaction on essential infrastructure.
“Every life lost on that road weighs heavily on the government’s conscience,” he stated. He urged for the swift completion of the bypass projects, noting that doing so could save countless lives and prevent unnecessary grief for families affected by road accidents.
Moreover, Mensah underscored the notion that effective governance hinges on the continuation of projects inherited from previous administrations. “It is critical that the current government builds on the progress of its predecessors rather than letting roads that could be safer remain neglected,” he asserted.
He called on citizens and civil society organizations to unite and advocate for improvements in road safety. “This is not just the government’s problem; it is a responsibility we all share. We must push for swift action to combat the ongoing tragedy on our roads,” Mensah concluded. The need for urgent interventions has never been more pressing, as the death toll continues to rise amid pleas for better infrastructure and road safety measures.