More than 52 persons were killed through motor accidents nationwide between December 23 and December 29, 2013.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Augustine Akrofi told the GNA in an interview on Thursday that the dead were made up of 16 females two of whom were below 18 years and 36 males five of whom were below 18 years.

The regional breakdown are Accra six, Tema three, Eastern nine, Central six, Western one, Ashanti six, Volta two, Northern three, Upper West one, Upper East three, and Brong-Ahafo 12.

ASP Akrofi, Staff Officer to the Commander of the Central Motor Traffic and Transport Unit, said within the same period in 2012, 37 persons lost their lives through motor traffic accidents, adding that 201 persons were injured in 2013 while 233 persons suffered motor traffic injuries in 2012.

The regional distribution of the injured in 2013 were Accra 67, Tema 18, Eastern 35, Central 29, Western nine, Ashanti eight, Volta five, Northern nine, Upper West nine, Upper East one and Brong-Ahafo 11.

ASP Akrofi said during the period, 306 motor accident cases were reported nationwide and that the number of motor bikes, commercial and private vehicles involved was 58,  204 and 210 respectively.

The regional statistics for accident cases were Accra 130, Tema 32, Eastern 34, Central 34, Western 11, Ashanti 25, Volta 10, Northern eight, Upper West three, Upper East four, and Brong Ahafo 15.

He said of the 306 motor accident cases, there were 44 fatalities, 79 serious and 183 minor cases.

He said 48 pedestrians were knocked down during the festive period of which Accra recorded 17,  Eastern nine, Central nine, Western one, Ashanti two, Volta two, Northern three, Upper West nil, Upper East one and Brong-Ahafo four.

This compares with 50 pedestrians knocked downs in 2012.

ASP Akrofi lauded the MTTU officers for ensuring that traffic was decongested during the yuletide period in the major cities like Accra, Kumasi and Secondi-Takoradi.

“This year we will not relent on our efforts to decongest traffic and we will continue to enforce our strategies to instil discipline on our roads,” he said.

He appealed to vehicle owners and the public to join hands with the police to ensure that motor accidents were reduced.