The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sammi Awuku has once again survived a near-fatal accident in Tolon, in the Tolon-Kumbungu district of the Northern Region.

He was in the company of some Northern Regional Executives of the party when a Tundra vehicle carrying their PA system suddenly burst into flames amidst a crowd of party supporters.

Mr Awuku had been on the grounds training party organizers and mobilisers ahead of the elections.

This is the second near-fatal accident the NPP National Organiser has been involved in in the run-up to the December 7, elections.

Earlier this month, a Toyota Land Cruiser Mr Awuku was travelling in veered off the road after a tricycle crossed his vehicle and lost control over the brakes just after Ejisu in the Ashanti

Fortunately, the NPP National Organiser and his driver escaped with no sign of injuries, however, the car was damaged.

Mr Awuku is said to have been traveling to Koforidua after training some party organisers and volunteer groups in Kumasi on Thursday.

Accidents in election years

In September 2004, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) running mate, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, survived a life-threatening accident three months before the election on the Atomic Junction-Hatso road in Accra.

Also, in August 2008, the convoy of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) running mate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, was involved in an accident in which two people were slightly injured while heading to Gwolu, the hometown of the late president of the Third Republic, Dr Hilla Limann. 

In August 2016, Vice-President Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur’s convoy was involved in an accident in the Central Region.  The Vice-President himself escaped unhurt.

Some journalists, Nutor Bibini Nutor of GTV and Bernard Allotey of Radio Gold, together with some security personnel in the vice president’s detail, were said to have sustained some injuries.

In March 2016, the NDC’s parliamentary candidate for Shai Osudoku, Mr William Ocloo, died in a tragic accident at Juaso in the Ashanti Region shortly after he was elected.

And the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, in October 2016 survived a near fatal accident that left one person injured.

For the 2020 elections, the NPP Chairman for the Asuogyaman Constituency Dr Akyea Darkwa was involved in a serious accident on the Asutuare-Akosombo road in the Eastern region in May.

Early October, the Deputy Northern Region Treasurer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was involved in an accident on the Tamale-Salaga road.

And on October 17, the New Patriotic Party’s Parliamentary Candidate for the Yapei Kusowgu constituency in the Savannah Region, Abu Kamara died in a fatal road accident.

The car he was driving was involved in a head-on collision with an articulator truck at the Datoyili police barrier on the outskirts of Tamale.