The Accra-Kumasi Highway in Ghana has recorded a significant number of road crashes between January and August 2026, resulting in 42 deaths and 264 injuries. According to data from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), 31 separate crashes occurred on the highway during this period, with 14 of them being fatal. The highway, which runs through several towns, including Accra, Nsawam, and Kumasi, is one of the busiest travel routes in the country.
A breakdown of the data shows that deaths were recorded in almost every month of the period. January saw four deaths, February one, and March six. April recorded three deaths, followed by four each in May and June. July was the deadliest month, with 19 fatalities on the corridor, before the toll dropped sharply to one death in August. The deadliest incident occurred on July 15, 2026, at Odumasi, when a crash involving a bus, a truck, and a tanker killed 13 people and injured 44 others.
The causes of the crashes on the Accra-Kumasi Highway have been attributed to speeding and vehicles veering off the road, which were linked to 13 of the 31 incidents. Head-on collisions accounted for nine incidents, while fires and spills were associated with seven. Unsafe overtaking and mechanical failures each contributed to six incidents, and stationary hazards on the road were linked to three. These causes are consistent with the national trend, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
The Accra-Kumasi Highway's 42 deaths represent roughly one in every 22 road deaths recorded across the whole country during the same period. According to the MTTD, more than 9,000 crashes were recorded nationwide between January and August 2026, resulting in over 900 deaths and more than 11,000 injuries. The frequency of fatal crashes on this single corridor means commuters and commercial drivers face repeated exposure to some of the same hotspots.
The data highlights the need for urgent action to address the safety concerns on the Accra-Kumasi Highway. For the many Ghanaians who travel between the capital and Kumasi for business, family visits, or transport work, the figures put a concrete number on a route long known for its traffic hazards. The hotspots identified in the data, including Odumasi, Ntoaso, and Bunso Junction, require targeted interventions to prevent further crashes.
In response to the growing concern over road crashes, the Ghana Police's automated traffic camera system is due to go live nationwide from October 1, 2026. The cameras are intended to target speeding, illegal window tinting, and reckless driving — behaviors that align closely with the causes MTTD identified as most common on the Accra-Kumasi Highway. The rollout of the camera system is expected to help reduce the number of crashes on the highway.
A fatal crash on the Accra-Kumasi Highway occurred just hours before the data emerged, killing four people on September 28, 2026. The incident highlights the need for sustained efforts to address the safety concerns on the highway. The MTTD has not provided additional comment on the Accra-Kumasi figures or the fresh fatal crash.
Key points
- 42 deaths and 264 injuries recorded on Accra-Kumasi Highway from January to August 2026
- Speeding and vehicles veering off the road were the most common triggers of crashes on the highway
- Ghana Police's automated traffic camera system is due to go live nationwide from October 1, 2026, to target speeding and reckless driving.
