By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah
Tema, May 15, GNA – Mr. Tonny-Dickson Afriford, a Road Crash and Injury Prevention Analyst, has raised serious concerns about the increasing risks faced by pedestrians in Ghana, describing them as the most vulnerable group of road users.
Mr. Afriford highlighted the lack of dedicated cycle lanes, pedestrian walkways and unsafe behaviour by both motorists and pedestrians as key factors contributing to road crashes involving pedestrians.
He was speaking at the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Tema Office, as part of activities marking the United Nations Global Road Safety Week celebration, under the theme: “Making Pedestrians and Cycling Safe for Road Users – Walk Safe, Stay Alive”.
He said: “Looking at the statistics, pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users not only in Ghana but globally.”
He explained that in the Greater Accra Region, 174 pedestrians were knocked down in the first quarter of 2024, which increased to 219 in 2025’s first quarter, adding that out of the knockdowns, 36 pedestrians were killed during the period in 2024 and 46 in 2025.
He again stated that pedestrian knockdowns at the national level were 573, leading to 128 killed in the first quarter of 2024 and 650 in 2025, resulting in the death of 178 people during the same period.
The road crash analyst stressed that the safety of pedestrians had not received the attention it deserves, saying that poor road design and neglect of pedestrian-friendly facilities continue to put lives at risk.
He explained that the absence of dedicated walkways and properly marked zebra crossings forces many pedestrians to compete for space with speeding vehicles, stating that many pedestrians ignore footbridges and cross busy highways at unauthorised points, putting themselves in grave danger.
He further called on government authorities, transport agencies and stakeholders to prioritise the needs of pedestrians in all road development projects, recommending stronger enforcement of traffic regulations to ensure that drivers respect pedestrian zones, such as zebra crossings, among others.
Mr. Afriford urged the Ghana Police Service, National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), and the media to intensify public education campaigns, especially targeting drivers and the public.
GNA
LS/BM