Ghana’s Deadliest Emergency Isn’t Nuclear Power — It’s the Nation’s Roads, Says Ebenezer Forson

Ghana is confronting a national crisis more lethal than war, epidemics, or even nuclear energy — a crisis unfolding in plain sight, on highways and city streets, every single day. It is a quiet catastrophe claiming thousands of lives annually and injuring tens of thousands more. And according to Ebenezer Forson, Branch Manager of Priority Insurance Company Limited, the scale of devastation is so severe that “if road accidents were a disease, Ghana would declare a state of emergency.”

This editorial by Accra Street Journal examines the hard numbers, the institutional failures, and the structural solutions needed to reverse one of Ghana’s gravest public-safety threats. The insights come from a detailed analysis presented by Ebenezer Forson, who granted an exclusive conversation to the Accra Street Journal.

A Crisis More Dangerous Than Nuclear Power

Nuclear power evokes fear across the world, but the irony is stark: globally, nuclear energy has one of the safest records of any major power source. Ghana’s roads, on the other hand, are responsible for far more deaths annually than any nuclear accident in history.

Forson frames it bluntly:

“Nuclear plants undergo decades of safety checks. Ghanaian drivers don’t. That alone explains the death toll.”

While the world has recorded only a handful of major nuclear incidents in 60 years, Ghana’s roads produce fatalities every day. Road crashes remain one of the country’s top causes of death, especially among young people. The statistics are staggering:

• 72 out of every 100,000 Ghanaians have suffered serious road injuries

• 8 out of every 100,000 die from road crashes annually

• More than 60% of fatalities involve people under 35 years

• Families spend an average of US$1,687 on crash-related injuries

• Road crashes drain 1.6% of national GDP yearly

For young adults — the country’s most economically active demographic — the risk is catastrophic. Forson notes that in trauma centers nationwide, road accident victims now account for up to 62% of emergency cases.

Why Roads Are Deadlier Than Reactors

1. Accidents happen daily, not once in a generation

Nuclear disasters are extraordinarily rare. Ghana records hundreds of crashes weekly.

2. Human behavior is the primary trigger

Drunk driving, overspeeding, distracted driving, reckless overtaking, fatigue, and indiscipline — these everyday behaviors produce mass casualties.

3. Vehicles are old, unsafe, and poorly maintained

Brake failures, worn-out tires, and mechanical problems contribute heavily to fatal crashes.

4. Emergency response is weak

Unlike nuclear systems, which have built-in, rapid emergency protocols, many Ghanaian accident victims die waiting for ambulances or proper trauma care.

5. Vulnerable road users bear the brunt

Pedestrians, motorcyclists, and passengers in overloaded commercial vehicles are exposed with little protection.

Institutional Failure — and the Framework to Fix It

Forson argues that Ghana’s road accident crisis has persisted because key agencies are working in silos, a dangerous fragmentation that leaves enormous gaps in enforcement and safety.

He stresses that data-start=”3689″ data-end=”3783″>NIC, DVLA, MTTD, and insurance companies must build a unified national safety architecture, combining data, enforcement power, and compliance mechanisms.

National Insurance Commission (NIC)

• Verifies insurance validity through the Motor Insurance Database (MID)

• Places higher premiums on high-risk drivers

• Supports victim compensation

• Funds nationwide safety campaigns

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA)

• Certifies driver competence

• Ensures vehicles are roadworthy

• Digitizes licensing and registration to eliminate fraud

Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate (MTTD)

• Conducts speed enforcement operations

• Arrests drunk drivers

• Investigates accidents

• Manages highway patrols

Insurance Companies

• Detect accident patterns through claims data

• Encourage behavior-based insurance

• Refuse coverage to dangerous vehicles

Inside the Conversation: Ebenezer Forson Speaks to Accra Street Journal

During our exchange, Forson, calm but firm, emphasized the urgency of institutional collaboration.

ASJ Reporter: “Why do you describe road accidents as more dangerous than nuclear power?”
Forson:

“Because nuclear accidents are rare and require massive system failures. But on our roads, tragedy only requires one reckless driver. We see preventable deaths every day. No nuclear incident has ever killed as many Ghanaians as our roads do annually — that is the truth.”

ASJ Reporter: “Can collaboration actually reverse these trends?”
Forson:

“Absolutely. When NIC, DVLA, MTTD, and insurers share data, unsafe drivers have nowhere to hide. When they conduct joint operations, fake insurance disappears. When they push education together, behavior changes. Road safety isn’t a mystery — it’s discipline, enforcement, and cooperation.”

ASJ Reporter: “What is your biggest concern as an insurance professional?”
Forson:

“The economic and human loss. Every accident means claims payouts, lost productivity, medical bills, and grief for families. If we take collaboration seriously, Ghana will save lives — and billions of cedis.”

What Collaboration Can Achieve

A unified system between NIC, DVLA, MTTD and insurers can deliver:

• Automated speed enforcement cameras

• Telematic tracking of dangerous drivers

• Regular joint roadworthiness checks

• Defensive-driving programs nationwide

• Stronger emergency response systems

• Eradication of fake licenses and fake insurance

Forson believes the transformation can be dramatic.

“Give Ghana five years of genuine institutional collaboration, and we will cut fatalities drastically,” he said.

A National Emergency That Can Be Solved

Ghana’s road accident problem is not a mystery — it is preventable. It is not random — it is systemic. It is not inevitable — it is solvable through coordinated national action.

Nuclear energy does not kill Ghanaian citizens. Road accidents do.

Ebenezer Forson’s analysis is both a warning and a blueprint. Ghana can save thousands of lives if its safety institutions finally work together.

Read the Full Analytical Paper on Accra Street Journal

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Source: Accra Street Journal | Ebenezer Forson

Last Updated on March 12, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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