Ras Mubarak: Open Letter to Hon. Minister of Transport, Republic of Ghana

Date: June 26, 2025
To: The Honourable Minister of Transport, Ministry of Transport, Accra, Ghana

Subject: Urgent Action to End the Epidemic of Road Accidents in Ghana

Dear Honourable Minister,

The tragic road accident on the Accra-Kumasi Highway near Oframase on June 25, 2025, which claimed several precious lives, is a heart-wrenching reminder of the relentless carnage on Ghana’s roads.

This is not an isolated incident but part of a silent epidemic that claims over 2,000 lives annually and leaves countless others injured or bereaved.

Our highways, meant to symbolize progress, have become death traps. I write to you, as the steward of Ghana’s transport sector, to demand immediate and decisive action to halt this preventable loss of life.

The Accra-Kumasi Highway, one of Ghana’s busiest corridors, is a notorious hotspot for fatal crashes.

From the April 2025 Amanase crash that killed 11 to the September 2024 Obretema tragedy that claimed seven lives, the pattern is clear: systemic failures predating your tenure are costing us dearly.

Speeding, responsible for a significant portion of fatalities, remains unchecked, with 89% of vehicles on local roads exceeding safe limits.

Poor road infrastructure, driver indiscipline, inadequate motorcycle regulation, and lax enforcement exacerbate the crisis.

The blood of over 2,000 victims in 2024 alone demands accountability and action.

I respectfully urge you to lead the charge in implementing tough, transformative measures to restore safety to our roads. I propose the following urgent actions:

Aggressive Speed Enforcement: Install speed cameras and mandatory GPS tracking on all public and commercial vehicles, as seen in Rwanda and Uganda. Impose steep fines (starting at GH₵600) and license suspensions for offenders exceeding the 90 km/h highway limit.
Road Infrastructure Overhaul: The hon. minister for Roads must prioritize the upgrade of high-risk highways like Accra-Kumasi, fixing potholes, widening single-carriageway stretches, and installing clear signage and barriers. Dual-carriageway expansions are critical to reducing head-on collisions.
Stricter Driver Licensing and Training: Overhaul the licensing system to include rigorous testing on road safety and fatigue management. Make mandatory annual retraining.
Motorcycle Regulation: Vigorously enforce the use of helmet by motorbike riders, with vehicle impoundment for non-compliance.
Zero-Tolerance for Driver Fatigue: Introduce mandatory rest periods for long-haul drivers, monitored via GPS and logbooks. Drivers caught dozing, as in the April 2025 Amanase crash, should face criminal charges.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch nationwide campaigns using graphic imagery of crash aftermaths to educate drivers and pedestrians, targeting schools, markets, and media platforms.
Strengthened Emergency Response: Equip the Ghana National Fire Service and National Ambulance Service for swift accident response. Establish trauma centers along high-risk highways.
Judicial Accountability: Fast-track prosecution of traffic offenders and impose harsher penalties, including jail time for repeat offenders, to deter recklessness.

The ongoing review of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012 must yield enforceable laws, not bureaucratic delays.

I call on you to work with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Ghana Police Service, and other stakeholders to treat road safety as a national emergency. The lives of Ghanaians – whether in villages or cities – depend on your leadership.

I am copying this letter to the Rt. Honourable Speaker of Parliament, the Chief of Staff, the Honourable Majority and Minority Leaders, the Inspector General of Police, the Minister for Roads, the Acting Executive Director of the NRSA, the Chairman and Ranking Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, the Ag. C.E.O., DVLA, the GPRTU, and all media houses to ensure transparency, accountability, and public engagement.

I trust that these stakeholders will join in amplifying this urgent call to action.

Honourable Minister, the grief of families who have lost loved ones on our roads is a burden we all share. Let the Oframase tragedy be the tipping point for change. Act now to reclaim our highways from the jaws of death.

I look forward to your swift response and tangible action.

Yours sincerely,

Ras Mubarak
cc:

Rt. Honourable Speaker of Parliament
Chief of Staff, Office of the President
Honourable Majority Leader, Parliament of Ghana
Honourable Minority Leader, Parliament of Ghana
The hon. minister for Roads
Inspector General of Police, Ghana Police Service
Acting Executive Director, National Road Safety Authority
Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Transport
Ranking Member, Parliamentary Committee on Transport
The Ag. C.E.O. DVLAGeneral Secretary, Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU)
All Media Houses