Road traffic fatalities in Accra surged by 34 percent in 2024, with pedestrians accounting for more than half of all deaths, according to the newly released Accra Road Safety Report.

The report, unveiled at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) national partners’ meeting on Monday, paints a grim picture of road safety in the capital.

It shows that pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists together made up 86 percent of all fatalities, highlighting the vulnerability of non-motorised road users.

The report further identified high-risk crash hotspots, including the Kwashieman intersection (N1), North Dzorwulu intersection (N1), Flat Top junction (N1), Abeka junction, and ABii National junction on J.A. Kufuor Avenue.

Nearly half of all fatal crashes occurred on weekends, mostly between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

In a speech delivered on his behalf by the Coordinating Director of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Mr. Douglas N.K. Annoful, the Mayor of Accra, Mr Michael Kpakpo Allotey, described the statistics as “alarming” and pledged stronger interventions.

“These overwhelming numbers must stir us to double our efforts in various interventions.

The AMA prioritises pedestrian safety, hence the reintroduction of the ‘red line policy’ to clear pavements of hawkers and safeguard the pedestrian,” the Mayor stated.

He stressed that clearing walkways was both a safety and equity measure, noting that effective leadership sometimes requires “difficult but necessary decisions” to protect lives.

Despite the overall increase in deaths, the report also highlighted signs of progress in speed control.

Speeding among drivers declined from 49 percent in March 2024 to 44 percent in September 2024, attributed to stepped-up enforcement and public awareness campaigns.

The AMA says it will continue to intensify road safety measures while working with partners to reduce fatalities in the coming years.