At least 15 people are feared dead following a devastating multi-vehicle collision at the Birimso Bridge on the Accra-Kumasi Highway, prompting renewed calls for urgent action to improve safety on one of Ghana’s busiest road corridors.
The crash, which occurred on the Kumasi-Accra stretch of the highway, left several others injured, with emergency services rushing to the scene to rescue victims, provide medical attention and clear the wreckage.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on the government to urgently prioritise the completion of ongoing works on the Accra-Kumasi Highway, arguing that the loss of lives highlights the need for immediate intervention.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 4, the Caucus expressed profound sorrow over the incident and extended its condolences to the families of those who lost their lives while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
“On behalf of the Minority Caucus, we extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families. We also sympathise with those who sustained injuries and wish them a speedy and full recovery,” the statement said.
The statement, signed by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee, Kennedy Nyarko Osei, described the Birimso Bridge crash as yet another painful reminder of the longstanding safety challenges on the Accra-Kumasi Highway.
“This unfortunate incident is yet another painful reminder of the urgent need to address the longstanding safety challenges on the Accra-Kumasi Highway. Far too many lives have been lost on this highway, and the nation cannot continue to accept these recurring tragedies as inevitable,” the statement noted.
The Minority acknowledged the government’s proposed US$1.7 billion Accra-Kumasi Expressway Project but argued that the immediate priority should be completing ongoing works and bypasses on the existing highway, which it believes could save lives.
According to the Caucus, while the government has committed US$1.7 billion for the expressway project and placed the funds in an escrow account at the Bank of Ghana, approximately US$300 million would be enough to complete the bypasses and unfinished sections of the current Accra-Kumasi Highway.
The Caucus maintained that speeding up these works should be treated as a matter of national urgency while preparations for the expressway continue.
“As fatal crashes continue to occur on this critical corridor, expediting these outstanding works should be treated as a matter of national urgency while preparations for the expressway continue,” the statement added.
The Accra-Kumasi Highway has long been regarded as one of Ghana’s busiest and most accident-prone roads, with numerous fatal crashes recorded over the years.
The latest tragedy at Birimso Bridge has once again reignited calls for decisive action to improve road safety and fast-track critical road infrastructure projects along the corridor.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI