A heartbreaking accident on the Atwedie stretch of the Kumasi–Accra highway on Monday, July 28, 2025, has claimed the lives of 15 young members of the Saviour Church of Ghana in Obogu.
The victims, aged between 4 and 21, were returning from a youth congress held in Koforidua when their Ford Transit bus was struck head-on by a fuel tanker.
According to eyewitnesses and preliminary reports, the tanker—which was travelling from Kumasi toward Accra—attempted to overtake another vehicle but suffered a tyre burst mid-manoeuvre.
The truck lost control and veered directly into the path of the oncoming church bus, resulting in a devastating collision. The impact was so severe that the bus’s engine was dislodged from its frame.
Church elder Kofi Baah, who arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, confirmed that among the deceased were the children of the church’s head pastor.
“It’s a tragedy beyond words,” he said. “Some families have lost two or even three children. The pain is unbearable.” He added that the bodies of the 15 victims have been taken to the Juaso Government Hospital mortuary, while four other passengers remain in critical condition.
Emergency teams from the Ghana National Fire Service, National Ambulance Service, and the Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate (MTTD) from Juaso and Konongo responded swiftly to the scene.
Witnesses described the aftermath as chaotic and deeply emotional, with bystanders rushing to assist the injured. Authorities have since launched an investigation into the crash, and grief counselors are expected to be deployed to support affected families.
The Obogu community remains in mourning as it grapples with the scale of the tragedy.
