Ghana has witnessed a heartbreaking surge in hit-and-run fatalities over the past decade, with hundreds of pedestrians losing their lives annually to drivers who flee the scene. This grim trend is exacerbated by a deepening national road safety crisis, as evidenced by rising traffic death tolls. Between 2013 and 2020, an average of 200 documented hit-and-run crashes occurred each year, with fatal outcomes frequently occurring on dark, unlit roads, according to a peer-reviewed study in Transportation Letters.
These incidents, often involving unknown vehicles, are a significant contributor to pedestrian deaths. A separate study in the Ghana Medical Journal indicated that ‘unknown’ vehicles were responsible for 68% of pedestrian fatalities recorded in the National Road Traffic Accident Database. The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reported 2,494 road traffic deaths in 2024, an increase from 2,276 in 2023, with projections suggesting 2025 could be the deadliest year on record if current trends continue. Pedestrians consistently account for a substantial portion of these fatalities, ranging from 36.7% to 56% regionally, and as high as 64% in Kumasi.
A Decade of Tragic Incidents
The period from 2015 to 2026 has seen numerous high-profile hit-and-run cases that have sparked public outcry and calls for reform.
In January 2015, a young man in his mid-twenties was killed on the Kaneshie–Odawkaw stretch in Accra. The victim was struck on a Saturday evening and left by a driver who fled the scene.
A particularly tragic case in 2016 involved Akwasi Boateng, a 45-year-old Seventh-Day Adventist evangelist. He was killed at dawn on May 1, 2016, near Ashanti Bekwai by a speeding driver who failed to stop, even after realizing Boateng had died. His body was dismembered, necessitating an immediate burial.
Just three weeks later, in May 2016, a foreigner in his 60s was killed near Anyaa Market in Accra. His body remained at the scene for hours before authorities arrived.
September 2018 saw a 37-year-old driver, Paul Agbedor, fatally strike a mother of three near Max Mart Super Market in Accra’s Airport area. In his attempt to escape, Agbedor caused further destruction, injuring eight others.
May 2021 was marked by a gruesome incident on the Suhum-Amanase Highway where a man’s mutilated body was found scattered on the road. Angry residents protested, leading to the eventual surrender of the suspected driver, John Amoako.
In June 2021, 27-year-old teacher Alice Adamtey was killed in Adenta by an unlicensed driver, Emeka Adams. Adams allegedly dumped her in a bush after pretending to take her for medical help.
July 2021 saw a 23-year-old man fatally struck by a speeding vehicle at Adansi Amudurase in the Ashanti Region.
February 2022 brought the heart-wrenching death of a 4-year-old girl in Kpando, Volta Region, who was hit while on an errand. The driver fled the scene.
In 2023, 55-year-old Ama Wete was killed on the Asukawkaw–Dambai Highway, with the driver remaining unidentified. Other hit-and-run incidents that year claimed lives on the Assin Fosu–Cape Coast and Accra–Kumasi highways.
2024 has been a devastating year, with incidents including the death of 35-year-old Awudu Adam near Konongo in June, and a young girl killed on the Accra-Tema motorway in July, who was then struck by a second vehicle. In October, a pedestrian was fatally struck on the Kanda Highway in Accra by a driver who initially stopped but then fled.
The year 2025 began tragically with the death of Owura Kwame during a crossover service in Esereso. In March, former Achimota School students Davida Asante Boateng and Lilian Akorli were killed on the Achimota Highway. July saw a disturbing case where a pedestrian was struck near Kasoa, driven to Accra, and abandoned, leading to his death. September concluded with a trotro driver killing an okada rider in a hit-and-run at Tetegu.
February 2026 was marked by national outrage over the death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah. He died after being denied admission at three hospitals due to a lack of beds, a case highlighting issues within the emergency healthcare system. Later that month, four people died in a collision on the Buipe–Tamale road, with the trailer truck driver fleeing. April 2026 saw an unidentified person killed by a speeding vehicle near the USTED campus in Tanoso.
Expert Perspectives and Data
Research consistently points to the severity of the hit-and-run problem. A Transportation Letters study analyzing 1,469 hit-and-run crash observations between 2013 and 2020 found that dark, unlit roadways significantly increased the likelihood of fatal injuries. The Ghana Medical Journal’s findings, that ‘unknown’ vehicles caused 68% of pedestrian fatalities, underscore the role of hit-and-run drivers. Experts from the CSIR-Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) advocate for stricter penalties, improved street lighting on accident-prone roads, traffic medians, and the deployment of automated cameras.
Implications and Future Watch
The persistent rise in road traffic deaths, heavily influenced by hit-and-run incidents, poses a critical challenge for Ghana. The failure of drivers to stop not only results in preventable deaths but also undermines public trust and safety. The lack of swift justice in many of these cases, coupled with systemic issues like inadequate road infrastructure and emergency medical services, creates a cycle of tragedy. As road safety advocates continue to press for action, the coming years will be crucial in determining whether Ghana can curb this deadly trend and ensure greater accountability on its roads.
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