By CAPE COAST, Ghana — A multi-vehicle collision on the Cape Coast-Takoradi highway in Ghana’s Central Region has claimed 14 lives, including an infant, and left several others injured. The accident occurred Sunday morning near Ataabadze, involving a sprinter van, a tipper truck, and an articulated truck.
According to local authorities, the articulated truck attempted to overtake the tipper truck on a sharp curve when it collided with a fully loaded sprinter van traveling from Accra to Takoradi. The impact resulted in a catastrophic crash, scattering debris across the highway.
Dr. Papa Kojo Mbroh, Head of the Emergency Unit at Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, confirmed the death toll. “We’ve received 14 casualties so far, including a baby,” Dr. Mbroh stated. “Our teams are working tirelessly to treat the injured.”
An eyewitness, identified only as Anderson, described the scene to Adom News: “While travelling from Cape Coast to Takoradi, near a curve by a school, two vehicles were approaching from Takoradi. One of the cars was delayed, prompting an articulated truck to attempt an overtaking. Simultaneously, a sprinter van was also trying to overtake. Both vehicles lost control in the curve and collided.”
Joy News reporter Eric Asante, who visited the hospital mortuary, reported that mortuary attendants initially put the death toll at 10, with four more casualties confirmed later at the emergency unit. Asante also noted nearly ten survivors receiving treatment.
The Ghana National Fire Service and Ghana Police Service personnel were quickly dispatched to the scene to evacuate victims and clear the road. The accident caused significant traffic disruptions on the busy highway connecting two major cities.
The sprinter van was reportedly carrying fish mongers and fishermen from Mumford in the Gomoa West District of the Central Region to the Sekondi Fishing Harbor. This tragic incident highlights ongoing concerns about road safety on Ghana’s major highways.
Ghana’s National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has been alerted and is expected to investigate the causes of the accident. “We will be conducting a thorough investigation to determine the factors that led to this tragic event,” said Samuel Obeng, a spokesperson for the NRSA.
The accident has reignited debates about the need for improved road safety measures, including better enforcement of traffic laws and enhanced driver education programs. Local community leaders are calling for immediate action to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, authorities are urging drivers to exercise caution, particularly when navigating curves and attempting overtaking maneuvers on highways. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.
This incident marks one of the deadliest road accidents in Ghana this year, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive road safety reforms in the country.
Credit: myjoyonline.com
