Drivers and traders along the Achimota–Amasaman highway are raising alarm over the absence of traffic lights and street lighting on the busy stretch, warning that the situation has become increasingly dangerous both for road users and residents.

Commuters say the lack of functioning traffic lights has made night driving dangerous, contributing to rampant accidents. Pedestrians report that crossing the road after dark has become life-threatening, with speeding vehicles unchecked.

Traders and hawkers add that the darkness has created fertile ground for criminal activity, emboldening thieves and armed robbers who terrorize both vendors and pedestrians on the stretch that connects Accra and Kumasi.

The concerns on the Achimota–Amasaman highway reflect a broader national emergency. Data from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) shows that Ghana recorded 14,743 crashes in 2025, resulting in 2,949 deaths, the highest in 35 years and representing an 18.2 per cent increase compared to 2024.

Some drivers and traders who spoke with Adom TV described the stretch as a “death trap” without proper traffic management, while traders said robberies have become frequent, with criminals exploiting the darkness to attack unsuspecting pedestrians and vendors.

Residents are also calling for urgent government intervention to restore traffic lights, improve street lighting, and increase police presence to protect lives and livelihoods.  

Since 1991, Ghana has recorded a cumulative toll of 63,599 road deaths. Of the fatalities in 2025, 2,352 were males, accounting for 80 per cent, while 597 were females, representing 20 per cent. For every four men killed, one woman died. Injuries also rose sharply, with 16,714 people hurt in crashes last year. Pedestrian knockdowns climbed by 7 per cent, with 2,561 cases reported nationwide.

Regional figures highlight the scale of the crisis. The Ashanti Region recorded 692 deaths, marking a 10.5 percent increase compared to 2024, while the Eastern Region followed with 649 deaths.

Greater Accra also recorded hundreds of fatalities, with highways such as Achimota–Amasaman singled out as high-risk zones. Monthly trends further underscore the severity of the situation.

In December 2025 alone, Ghana recorded 1,423 crashes and 276 deaths. Between January and May 2025, 1,267 deaths were reported, an 18.9 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.  

Authorities from the Ministry of Roads & Highways, the Ministry of Energy & Green Transition, and the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation & Rural Development, who are responsible for the installation and maintenance of streetlights on the highways, are yet to respond to the growing concerns.