President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged all road users, particularly drivers, to practice caution in order to reduce the country’s accident rate.
The president stated this while expressing his condolences to the families of those killed in the accident. In addition, he wished the wounded a speedy recovery.
In a tweet, Mr. Akufo-Addo asked all road users, particularly drivers, to drive carefully at all times in order to assist decrease the number of road accidents in the country.
“I have learnt with considerable sadness of the tragic accident, at Akomadan, that has claimed the lives of some 30 people in the early hours of this morning. I extend my condolences to families of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he said.
He added, “I continue to urge all road users, especially our drivers, to drive safely always, and help reduce the spate of road accidents in the country.”
When a Daewoo passenger bus collided with a Kia Towing truck on the Offinso-Techiman road in the Bono Region, several victims were verified burnt beyond recognition, while 25 others fled to safety.
The 25 persons have been rushed to a local hospital, while the five are being retrieved by Ghana Police Service and Ghana National Fire Service personnel.
The Akomadan District Police Commander, DSP Gyasi Agyeman, who broke the news, stated that the accident happened about 4:30 a.m.
He said that “a bus loaded with passengers from Nandom to Kumasi with the registration number GT 4215 – 17 collided with a parked Kia Towing vehicle with registration number GT 6983 – 12.”
According to DSP Gyasi, “about 25 were able to escape, but five of them were trapped and burnt beyond recognition.”
“You could see their bodies in the vehicles. Five are dead beyond recognition. The injured have been rushed to the hospital”.
The Commander said, “according to the passengers, some alighted at Techiman, Kintampo and other places, along the road so it was not a fully loaded bus”.
“We can say for a fact because they could see the bodies from the vehicles. At the time the fire service was able to quench the fire, the five people had been burnt. It is a VIP type passenger bus that could take about forty plus passengers”.
He said that “the driver of the towing car was safe. One of those burnt was behind the steering of the bus so we presume that he was the driver”.
DSP Agyeman said, “the driver was alleged to be speeding because my men flashed him to stop at the checkpoint but he refused ”.
“Some of the passengers even said they got angry with him for the reckless driving, so a few meters after our checkpoint, he ran into the truck”.
DSP Agyeman, who stated he took over as District Police Commander only yesterday, remarked, “I just assumed office as District Commander yesterday, and this is my welcome address.”
Read Also: Funny Face granted GH20,000 bail by court
