Latest statistics on Ghana’s road traffic crashes indicate that a total of 734 persons were killed between January to March 2022.

At least 4,025 persons sustained various degrees of injuries, while 712 Pedestrians were knocked down in the same period.

A total of 3,932 crashes were reported involving 6,587 Vehicles.

 

  1. General Overview

Table 1: Summary of RTC and Casualty Situation – (January to March 2022)

January to March 2022January to March 2021Change
(Compared to 2021)
Cases Reported3,9324009(1.92)
Vehicles Involved6,5876830(3.56)
Persons Killed734771(4.80)
Persons Injured4,0254200(4.17)
Pedestrians Knockdown712724(1.66)

 

Figure 1: Summary of Crashes and Casualty Situation from January to March 2022.

Comparing the period of January to March 2022 to the same period last year, there have been decreases in the number of cases reported (–1.92%), vehicles involved (-3.52%), Pedestrians knocked down (-1.66%),  number of persons killed (-4.80%) and persons injured (-4.17%).

 

  1. Vehicles Involved

For vehicles involved, the categories are presented in Table 2 and Figure 2 below:

Table 2: Categories of Vehicles Involved in Crashes

CategoryJanuary to March 2022Proportion of Vehicles involved in crashesJanuary to March 2021Proportion of Vehicles involved in crashes% Change based on 2021
Commercial2,21033.552,47636.25(10.74)
Private2,94844.752,77140.576.39
Motorcycle1,42921.691,58323.18(9.73)
Total6,5876,830

 

Figure 2: Categories of Vehicles Involved.

The number of vehicles involved in crashes from January to March 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 is shown in Figure 3 below:

Figure 3: Categories of Vehicles Involved in Crashes from January to March 2022 compared to January to March 2021.

Figure 3 above shows that the proportions of vehicles involved in crashes for Commercial Vehicles and motorcycle categorised decreased by (-10.74%) and (-9.73%) respectively and that of Private Vehicles increased by 6.39% as compared to the same period last year (2021).

3. Category of Motorcycle/Tricycle Involved in Crashes

Analysis on the categories of vehicles involved in crashes shows that motorcycles (Two/Three wheelers) constituted the least (20.50%) of all vehicles involved. This notwithstanding, the share of motorbike/motorcycle crashes is alarming taking into consideration the population of motorcycles (two/three-wheelers) of the total vehicle population.

Table 3 below presents a breakdown of types of Motorcycles/Tricycles involved in crashes

Table 3: Category of Motorcycle/Tricycle Involved in Crashes

Category of Motorcycles involved in CrashesJanuary to March 2022Proportion of Cycles involved in crashesJanuary to March 2021Proportion of Cycles involved in crashes% Change based on 2021
20222021
Motorcycles1,05773.971,22777.51(13.85)
Bicycles503.50392.4628.21
Handcarts292.0390.57222.22
Tricycles29320.5030819.46(4.87)
Total1,4291001,583100

 

Table 3 above indicates that there was a general reduction of 9.73% in crash involvement for all types of motorcycles. However, only motorbikes constituted 73.97% of crashes involving all categories of motorcycles whilst tricycles contributed 20.50%. As compared to the same period in 2021, the share of motorbike involvement in crashes decreased by 13.85%.

 

Figure 4: Category of Motorcycles/Tricycles Involved in Crashes

  1. Regional Distribution of Crashes and Fatalities

The distribution of crashes and fatalities across the various regions is presented in Tables 4 and 5 below. Further illustration is given in Figures 5 and 6 below.

Table 4: Regional Distribution of Cases Reported (January to March 2022).

CRASHES
REGIONABSOLUTE%
Greater Accra166142.24
Ashanti91823.35
Eastern45211.50
Central2426.15
Western1774.50
Volta972.47
West North701.78
Northern551.40
Bono East541.37
Ahafo411.04
Upper East380.97
Upper West340.86
Bono330.84
Savannah300.76
North East170.43
Oti130.33
TOTAL3932 

 

Figure 5: Regional Distribution of Crashes

Table 5: Regional Distribution of Fatalities (January to March 2022)

 FATALITIES
ABSOLUTE%
Greater Accra139                                18.94
Ashanti Region137                                18.66
Eastern136                                18.53
Central59                                  8.04
Western North38                                  5.18
Volta35                                  4.77
Northern34                                  4.63
Western31                                  4.22
Bono East25                                  3.41
Bono21                                  2.86
Ahafo20                                  2.72
Savannah17                                  2.32
Upper West15                                  2.04
Upper East10                                  1.36
Oti10                                  1.36
North East7                                  0.95
TOTAL734

 

Figure 6: Regional Distribution of Fatalities.

 

 

The regional distribution of crashes and fatalities in Figures 5 and 6 respectively, indicate that the Greater Accra Region, Ashanti and Eastern regions contributed about 77.09% of crashes and 56.13% of fatalities in January and March 2022 respectively. This trend has not changed from the past trend in which these three regions together constitute the major/highest contributors of crashes and fatalities in Ghana.

  1. Distribution of Fatalities by Sex and Age

 The distribution of fatalities by sex and age is shown in Figures 7and 8below respectively

Figures 7: Distribution of Fatalities by Gender

From Figure7above, it is observed that male fatalities have outstripped the female fatalities by an approximate ratio of(3.9: 1), implying that male fatalities are highly over-represented (almost 4 times) in road traffic fatalities. This trend has not changed as compared to previous years.

Figure 8: Distribution of Fatalities by Age

The adult age-group (above 18 years)was the most represented in the fatality statistics constituting 87% of fatalities as compared to 13% for children. Putting the riskiest age-group and sex together, the picture implies that more adult males are dying than their female counterparts. This further points to the understanding that male casualties are more likely to have fatal outcomes than female casualties.

Source: Kasapafmonline.com

 

 

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