The Western Region has recorded a worrying rise in road traffic accidents, with 465 people losing their lives in 2,800 crashes between January and November 2025, prompting renewed calls for stronger policy and enforcement measures to curb the trend.

Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has appealed for a comprehensive national road safety policy, stressing that such a framework would help address the growing incidence of motor accidents, particularly during peak periods like the festive season.

He made the call while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a stakeholder engagement on "Safe and Responsible Driving During the Festive Season" on December 23.

According to Mr Nelson, discussions at the meeting, especially contributions from the Police Service, highlighted serious enforcement challenges linked to inadequate resources.

He noted that strengthening the capacity of the police to effectively monitor and prosecute offences such as drunk driving is critical to reducing accidents on the roads.

Meanwhile, the Western Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Division (MTTD), Superintendent Paul Bruce Amoah, attributed the surge in accidents largely to human behaviour behind the wheel. He said driver-related factors account for the vast majority of crashes recorded in the region.

Superintendent Amoah disclosed that about 90 to 95 per cent of the accidents were caused by driver error, citing drunk driving, excessive speeding and dangerous overtaking as the leading contributors.

He added that the MTTD has intensified sensitisation campaigns at transport terminals across the region to educate drivers, noting that the 2025 figures represent a sharp increase compared to the same period in 2024, when 1,119 vehicles were involved in road crashes.