Kpong Fire Station Takes Road Safety Drive to Tema-Akosombo Highway as Accident Risks Persist

Officers from the Kpong Fire Station of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) have taken their road safety message directly to motorists along one of Ghana's busiest corridors — the Tema-Akosombo Highway — in a bid to curb dangerous driving habits and reduce the number of lives lost to road crashes.

The three-day campaign, which ran from Tuesday, 27 October to Thursday, 29 October 2026, was led by ADO II Okortor and saw fire service personnel stationed at key points along the highway to engage drivers in real time, rather than relying solely on traditional public announcements.

What drivers were told

At the heart of the campaign was a push to change everyday driver behaviour. Officers educated motorists on a range of critical road safety practices, including:

• Speed management — driving within safe and legal speed limits, particularly on stretches prone to accidents
• Seatbelt use — ensuring all occupants of a vehicle are properly buckled up at all times
• Safe following distances — maintaining adequate space between vehicles to allow for timely braking
• Mobile phone distraction — avoiding calls and texting while behind the wheel, which remains a leading cause of crashes nationally
• Patience and road courtesy — reducing aggressive driving, unnecessary overtaking, and road rage incidents

The GNFS reported that the response from motorists was largely positive, with many drivers welcoming the direct engagement and expressing appreciation for what they described as a proactive and practical approach to road education.

Why it matters for Ghana

Road accidents remain one of Ghana's most persistent public health crises. The Tema-Akosombo Highway is a critical artery connecting the Greater Accra and Eastern regions, carrying heavy volumes of commercial vehicles, cargo trucks and private motorists daily. Its mix of high-speed sections, blind corners, and heavy freight traffic makes it particularly hazardous.

Ghana consistently records thousands of road fatalities and injuries each year, placing significant strain on hospitals, families and the national economy. Many of these accidents are attributed to the very behaviours the GNFS campaign targeted — speeding, distracted driving, tailgating and failure to use seatbelts.

Crucially, the involvement of the Fire Service in road safety education — rather than leaving the mandate solely to the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service — reflects a broader, multi-agency approach to tackling the problem. Fire officers are often among the first responders at accident scenes and therefore have a direct, lived understanding of the consequences of reckless driving.

What comes next

The GNFS has signalled that this campaign is not a one-off exercise. The Service says it remains committed to sustained public education along major roads and will continue to collaborate with road users, communities and partner agencies to prevent crashes and protect lives.

Road safety advocates have long argued that enforcement alone is insufficient and that consistent, community-level education — exactly the kind being pursued by the Kpong Fire Station — is essential to shifting driver attitudes over time. If replicated across other fire stations and highway corridors, such campaigns could contribute meaningfully to reducing Ghana's road toll in the months ahead.