The annual costs of road traffic crashes in low and middle-income countries including Ghana are estimated to be between $65 and $100 billion, more than the total annual amount received in development aid, a report by US National Institutes of Health has said.
The estimated costs of accidents as a percentage of the Gross National Product (GNP) in most African countries range from about 1.6 per cent in Ghana to one per cent in South Africa and almost five per cent in Kenya, the report added.
Reports say road accidents cost Ghana $288 million in 2008. In 2009, the figure jumped to $480 million, according to statistics from National Road Safety Commission. The amount does not include the direct and indirect cost of road accidents to relatives of victims � wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, and children. It does not also include funeral costs and the cost of having to do without loved ones and breadwinners.
Through road accidents, many private and state institutions have lost experienced and competent employees. What makes Ghana�s situation worse is that majority of the people do not have life and disability insurance policies from which they or their dependants can get some financial support when they are involved in accidents.
The aforementioned distressing situation thus calls for drastic intervention by the government and its agencies like the DVLA and the Police and indeed all citizens to play their role in ensuring drastic reduction in road accidents in Ghana.
Speaking to Economic Tribune, Mr. Atuahene of the National Road Safety Commission (N.R.S.C) described the situation as a blow to the Ghanaian economy, noting that, the amount could be used to better the lives of many Ghanaians. He has therefore called on stakeholders in the transport industry to ensure safety on the roads.
�The person in charge of licensing should make sure the receiver of license is qualified, the engineer should provide credible roads and the one in charge of vehicles should ensure the vehicle is road worthy and avoid the indiscipline,� he stated.
He continued: �the commission is very much aware of its mandate and throughout the various regions; there are specific programs that are carried out daily and on weekly basis to ensure safety on roads.�
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