By Christiana Afua Nyarko, GNA
Accra, Aug. 14, GNA – Dr Samuel Otu Nyarko, Police Commissioner and Medical Director of the Police Hospital, has confirmed 12 deaths from Thursday morning’s multiple vehicle crash at Ofankor Barrier on the Accra-Kumasi Highway.
The deceased comprised seven females and five males, all adults, whose remains had been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue.
Dr Otu Nyarko said two injured persons were initially brought to the Police Hospital but were referred to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge, after being stabilised.
He said both patients had orthopaedic injuries requiring specialist care, which was unavailable at the Police Hospital because its orthopaedic surgeon was on leave.
“Our job was then to stabilise, make sure patients were safe, and then remove them,” he said.
At the Achimota Hospital, four injured persons were initially received, comprising two females and two males, all adults.
Mr Bernard Fiifi Polley, Hospital Administrator, said two of the patients were treated and discharged the same day because their injuries were not severe.
He said the two patients with severe injuries suffered multiple injuries and fractures.
One sustained multiple injuries and fractures involving the upper and lower limbs, while the other suffered a fracture of the ankle bone.
Mr Polley said the two patients had been transferred to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge, for further management by orthopaedic specialists, who were unavailable at the Achimota Hospital.
At the Ga North Municipal Hospital at Asofa, a nurse who spoke to the GNA on condition of anonymity could not state the number of patients received after the crash.
The nurse, however, confirmed that victims brought to the facility had subsequently been transferred to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital for advanced treatment because the hospital did not have an orthopaedic specialist.
The crash occurred at about 0400 hours between the Ofankor Barrier and the John Teye enclave and involved seven vehicles, including two tipper trucks, two Sprinter buses, two saloon cars and a tricycle.
An earlier update from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) had put the death toll at 11, with 13 people injured.
The cause of the crash had not been established as of Thursday afternoon, with investigations underway.
The accident caused significant disruption to traffic along the Ofankor-Pokuase corridor as emergency responders worked to rescue victims and clear the wreckage.
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has identified the Achimota Overhead–Ofankor Barrier stretch of the N6 as a road crash blackspot in Greater Accra.
NRSA’s regional profile recorded 474 road crash deaths between January and November.
Nationally, NRSA data showed that 2,949 people died in road crashes in 2025, compared with 2,494 in 2024, while 14,743 crashes were recorded during the year.
Preliminary NRSA figures showed that road crash fatalities nationwide increased from 261 in January 2025 to 383 in January 2026, while Greater Accra recorded an increase from 21 to 50 deaths over the same period.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Christiana Afua Nyarko