Rev. Cyril Crabbe Benedict, President of Accident Victims Support Ghana, has expressed concern over the lack of prioritization of road safety in Ghana.
According to him, none of the political party manifestos he has reviewed included significant measures towards improving road safety or supporting road accident victims.
In an interview with Sefa Danquah on Happy 98.9 FM, Rev. Benedict stated, “Road safety is not a national priority in Ghana. I’ve gone through political manifestos and found no mention of crash victims. Road accidents should be a key concern, but sadly, they are not.”
He highlighted that over the past decade, the National Road Safety Authority has faced limited resources and inadequate support, with minimal attention given to road safety initiatives.
“All development plans ignore road safety, which is alarming,” he added.
He emphasized that since roads are essential for national development, it is crucial to prioritize their improvement and maintenance.
Rev. Benedict stressed that poor road conditions and inadequate driver training are the major contributors to road accidents, questioning how the country can progress without addressing these issues.
Citing the alarming statistics of 16,000 crashes, with over 13,000 people severely injured and more than 3,000 lives lost, he pointed out that many victims were buried in a mass burial, with some families still unaware of their loved ones’ resting places.
He urged government to take road safety seriously and put in place measures to protect lives and ensure compensation for victims.