Kusi Adomako calls for road crashes to be declared a public health emergency

Appiah Kusi Adomako, Director of the West Africa Regional Centre of CUTS International, has urged the Ghanaian government to treat road crashes in the country as a public health emergency. He argued that the alarming number of deaths on Ghana's roads demands the same urgency that was applied to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to JoyNews, Adomako stated that over 2,500 people lost their lives in road crashes last year and that the daily toll of about eight deaths should prompt the government to adopt emergency measures and dedicate more resources to preventing road fatalities.

Comparing the road safety situation in Ghana to the government's response to COVID-19, Adomako noted that while the country mobilized substantial resources and implemented extensive measures to control the pandemic, road safety has not received a comparable level of attention and investment, despite the ongoing loss of lives. He called for a significant shift in the approach to road safety, emphasizing the need for sustained investment in preventive measures rather than relying solely on enforcement after accidents occur.

Adomako specifically highlighted the importance of increasing the police presence on the roads to deter dangerous driving and improve compliance with traffic regulations. He also welcomed provisions in Ghana's new traffic legislation that introduce automated enforcement of traffic offences, believing that technology can enhance enforcement and reduce the pressure on law enforcement personnel.

However, Adomako stressed that technology and policing alone would not solve Ghana's road safety challenges and that road safety should be a shared national responsibility involving motorists, pedestrians, government agencies, law enforcement authorities, and other stakeholders.