More than 500 persons were killed in 2,890 motor accidents in Ghana in the first quarter of 2017, according to reports.

Between January and March 25, Ghana recorded 2,890 road crashes in 2017 as against 2,830 recorded over the same period in 2016, state-run Ghana News Agency (GNA) said on Wednesday quoting the Police.

It said the number of vehicles involved in these crashes rose from 4,088 to 4,802, with 510 people deaths as against 485 deaths recorded in 2016.

It attributed 70 per cent of these crashes to lack of maintenance of vehicles and irresponsible driving such as speeding and wrongful overtaking.

DSP Alex Obeng, Director in-charge of Education and Training, the Ghana Police Service, confirmed this at the launch of Street Sense Organisation (SSO), a Non-Profit Organization, which champions road safety education.

He said that 2,971 people were injured within the period under review as against 2,576 in 2016, adding: “The statistics is scary and we need to come together to partner the government to address it.”

Obeng commended the SSO for its foresight and pledged the police’s preparedness in achieving the set targets.

Oswald Lavoe, Executive Chairman of the SSO, said in spite of some progress over the years, road safety still remained a great national concern that required collaborative and concerted efforts to promote.

“These statistics on road crashes in Ghana is startling and worrying, and we cannot just sit with folded arms and watch thousands of innocent souls perish through accidents without taking action.” (NAN)

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