The Ministry of Health, through the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has issued a health alert warning of an increased risk of road traffic accidents during the Christmas festivities, a period historically linked to preventable injuries and loss of lives.
This statement was signed by Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Acting Director-General of the Ghana Health Service.
In a press release dated December 15, 2025, and issued from the GHS Headquarters in Accra, health authorities extended seasonal greetings to Ghanaians but expressed concern that records from health facilities show no reduction in road-traffic-related injuries.
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Data from hospitals, the National Road Safety Authority, the Ghana Police Service and research institutions point to persistent risk factors driving the trend.
According to the GHS, poor visibility during the harmattan season, increased road use, driver fatigue and unsafe road-use behaviours remain major contributors.
These include over-speeding, drunk driving, high-risk overtaking, non-use of seat belts, and the consumption of drugs, alcohol and other stimulants by drivers, as well as general non-adherence to road traffic regulations.
The Service noted that most of these factors are human-made and therefore controllable, stressing that the health system continues to bear the devastating consequences of road crashes, including deaths, amputations, disfigurement and other severe injuries.
It called on the public to take collective responsibility in reducing the burden.
Drivers, as well as motorcycle and tricycle riders, have been advised to avoid over-speeding and unsafe overtaking, refrain from using alcohol, drugs, energy drinks or stimulants before or while driving, always wear seat belts or helmets, comply fully with road traffic regulations and ensure adequate rest before travelling.
Passengers in both private and commercial vehicles, along with pedestrians, have also been urged to observe driver behaviour and speak up against risky actions, wear seat belts throughout journeys, use designated pedestrian walkways, avoid illegal crossings and remain alert on or near roads.
