At least 13 people have been confirmed dead, while several others sustained varying degrees of injury following a devastating three-vehicle collision at Odumase, near Konongo, on the Kumasi-Accra highway in the Ashanti Region.
The fatal crash involved a passenger bus, a cargo truck transporting tomatoes, and a fuel tanker, which authorities said was not carrying fuel at the time of the accident. The collision occurred on one of Ghana’s busiest transport corridors, disrupting traffic for several hours as emergency responders carried out rescue and recovery operations.
Although the exact cause of the accident has not yet been officially established, eyewitnesses told JoyNews that the crash followed an alleged wrongful overtaking maneuver. According to accounts from the scene, one of the vehicles attempted to overtake another before colliding head-on with oncoming traffic, triggering a chain-reaction crash involving the third vehicle.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Police Service, and the National Ambulance Service responded swiftly to the emergency. Rescue teams worked tirelessly to free passengers trapped in the mangled wreckage, while the injured were rushed to nearby health facilities for emergency medical treatment.
The bodies of the deceased were recovered from the wreckage and conveyed to nearby mortuaries as authorities continued recovery efforts. Officials have not yet released the identities of the victims, pending notification of their families.
The accident resulted in heavy traffic congestion along the Kumasi-Accra highway, leaving hundreds of motorists stranded as security personnel diverted traffic and worked to clear the damaged vehicles from the road. Normal traffic flow was restored only after several hours of coordinated rescue and clearance operations.
In a separate but related development, another road crash occurred shortly afterward at Dadieso, also near Konongo, raising fresh concerns about road safety along the highway corridor. While details surrounding the second accident remain limited, the two incidents occurring within a short period have intensified public anxiety over the increasing number of fatal crashes on major roads across the country.
Authorities have confirmed that 13 people have so far lost their lives in the Odumase crash, but warned that the death toll could rise as some of the injured remain in critical condition.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collision. Findings from the investigation are expected to guide further action and help establish legal responsibility for the crash.
The latest tragedy has renewed calls from road safety advocates for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations—particularly against dangerous overtaking, speeding, and reckless driving. They are urging motorists to exercise greater caution, obey road signs, and prioritize safety at all times to help reduce the growing number of road traffic fatalities in Ghana.
