ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ON THE ACCRA–KUMASI–TAMALE ROAD CORRIDOR

ABSTRACT Ordinarily, the growth of the road transport industry and its relationship with development should not be antithetical to development, if such growth is in tandem with the adequate transportation infrastructure services, which are perceived as part of the daily rhythm of the development process. A reliable transport network is essential to public safety, economic vitality and the overall quality of life. Unfortunately, the Accra–Kumasi–Tamale highway, the busiest trans-national corridor in Ghana linking the three Salelian Countries, is fraught with traffic accidents, albeit at different spatial levels and magnitudes, a situation which threatens both national development and public health. Using the systems theory as a theoretical framework, this study investigates the factors contributing to road traffic accidents on the said corridor. To achieve the set objectives, data were drawn from a questionnaire survey of 245 respondents and 3 focus group discussions. This data was complemented with official reports and archival data extract from Ghana’s Daily Graphic newspaper, between 1980 and 2010. The results revealed that road traffic accidents normally occurred during the evening peak rush hours of 16:00–18:00 hours, possibly due to visibility problems. In terms of contributions, the results showed ineffective institutional arrangements at the district levels and inadequate financing of road safety activities. Aside the lack of commitment at the district levels, other human factors such as recklessness of drivers also featured prominently. The study opines that for effective road safety management such activities shall be structured and implemented at the regional and district levels instead of the current broad-based “National Safety Committee” approach.