Preventable Failures, Not Witchcraft, Behind Ghana’s Road Accidents – Dominic Duut

Offinso Ashanti – Broadcasting journalist  has urged Ghanaians to shift the conversation on road crashes from superstition to practical safety measures, saying most accidents result from human and systemic failures that can be fixed.

“Our accidents are not caused by witchcraft, but rather by poor packing, bad road conditions, speeding, and poor supervision of our vehicles,” Dominic Duut said.

“These issues are preventable, and addressing them through proper loading practices, regular vehicle maintenance, driver training, and stricter road safety enforcement will make our journeys much safer.”

Again drugs and driving are also deadly mixthat puts everyone at risk. The fix needs both personal responsibility and police action.

Dominic Duut made the remarks during an accident scene at Akumadan Kumasi-Techiman road where 12 lives were claimed, he expressed frustration over the persistent loss of lives on Ghana’s roads despite repeated public education campaigns by authorities.

He also called on the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service to broaden its approach beyond routine checks.

“Our MTTD should be up and doing. It’s not only about checking driver’s licenses, making arrests, and issuing fines for misconduct,” he stated.

“The focus must move to enforcing loading standards, inspecting vehicle roadworthiness, and holding transport operators accountable for supervision.”

We know Road safety experts have long identified overloading, poorly secured cargo, speeding, and poor vehicle maintenance as leading contributors to crashes, particularly on kumasi-Techiman highway intercity routes. Poor road infrastructure further compounds the risk.

Dominic Duut’s comments add to growing public pressure for the MTTD and transport unions to enforce existing regulations more rigorously and prioritize prevention over reactive policing.

The Ghana Police Service has yet to respond to the call for expanded MTTD operations.

Credit Antwi Boasiako Linford