Davis Ansah Opoku, Member of Parliament for Mpraeso Constituency in the Eastern Region, has warned that Ghana is facing a growing road safety crisis as fatalities on major highways continue to rise, calling for urgent interventions following the tragic accident that killed 16 young people on the Atwidie–Juaso stretch of the Accra–Kumasi Highway.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Hon. Opoku said the recent crash highlights a nationwide problem. Ghana records thousands of road crashes yearly, with the Accra–Kumasi Highway ranking among the most dangerous.

“Every weekend I travel on that road, and every trip feels like a prayer. Our roads have become death traps.

This is a national emergency, and we must treat it as such,” he said.

The MP cited the lack of streetlights, inadequate road signage, and poor enforcement of roadworthiness checks as major contributors to the high rate of accidents.

He also called for the immediate dualization of the Praso to Kumasi stretch, which he described as one of the deadliest sections of the highway.

“This is not just about one accident or one constituency. It is about protecting Ghanaian lives. Road safety is not politics; it is about saving families from needless pain,” Mr. Opoku emphasised.

He urged the Ministries of Roads and Highways, Energy, and the National Road Safety Authority to collaborate to implement comprehensive measures to make Ghana’s major highways safer.

The fatal accident occurred when a fuel tanker burst a tire near Juaso and veered into an oncoming minibus, killing 16 passengers instantly.

Most of the victims were youth between the ages of 4 and 21, returning from a church conference.

“Every statistic is a human life, a family in mourning. We cannot allow this to continue,” he concluded.