A report on road traffic safety has highlighted alarming trends in the Ashanti Region, identifying speeding, lax enforcement, and the rapid rise of motorcycles and tricycles as major contributors to rising road fatalities.

The data indicate a growing number of road safety issues linked to motorcycles and tricycles, with a significant increase in crash involvement.

Motorcycle-related accidents rose by 22 per cent, while tricycle incidents soared by 49 per cent in 2025.

According to the 2025 Road Traffic Statistics released by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), the number of road deaths in the region jumped by 10.5 per cent, with 692 lives lost in 2025 compared to 626 in 2024.

The data also revealed an 11.1 per cent rise in road crashes and a 13.7 per cent increase in injuries during the same period.

Kwasi Agyenim Boateng, the Ashanti Regional Head of the NRSA, shared these findings with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), emphasising that road safety risks are not evenly distributed across the region.

The most alarming increase was seen in Ashanti North, where fatalities skyrocketed by 64 per cent, even though the total number of crashes was relatively low.

Mr Boateng noted that crashes in this area tend to be more severe due to high speeds, insufficient enforcement, and inadequate road safety infrastructure.

Key rural highways, such as the Ejura–Mampong–Offinso and Akomadan road corridors, were identified as significant contributors to the rise in deaths.

On the other hand, Ashanti Central recorded the highest number of crashes but experienced a lower increase in fatalities.

With 2,927 crashes in 2025, injuries surged, yet the death toll remained nearly unchanged.

The NRSA attributed this to increased pedestrian knockdowns, trading on pedestrian walkways, frequent interactions between pedestrians, vehicles and motorcycles, especially in areas like Manhyia, Suame, Tafo, Anloga junction, Asokwa, Kwadaso and Abuakwa

Mr Boateng described this trend as a regulatory gap, highlighting that most tricycles have transitioned from informal rural transport to popular urban passenger vehicles.

While commercial vehicles recorded higher crash volumes, fatalities linked to private vehicles increased by 25 cases, suggesting higher speeds, night-time driving, alcohol use, and poor seatbelt compliance.

The NRSA data further showed that road deaths rose sharply in the first half of the year, particularly in the first and second quarters, and again in the fourth quarter, coinciding with the festive season, when travel demand was high.

Mr Boateng said the statistics will guide the Authority’s 2026 strategy, with an emphasis on corridor-based enforcement, stricter regulation of motorcycles and tricycles, speed control, and improved pedestrian safety measures across the region.

NRSA will also collaborate with the Road Agencies on road safety audits to improve road safety infrastructure in the region.

He said Active road safety education and sensitisation would be sustained throughout the year.