At least 16 people are feared dead following a devastating head-on crash between an ambulance and a Ford Transit bus along the Potrikrom stretch in the Ahafo Ano South-East District of the Ashanti Region.
Eyewitnesses say the Ford Transit bus, registration number GT 6576–19, was travelling from Kumasi to Bechem when it collided with an oncoming ambulance, registration GV 527–23. The impact was so severe that both vehicles were left mangled, with most passengers in the bus believed to have died instantly.
Kwabena Stephen, who witnessed the aftermath, described the scene as horrifying. “Some bodies were badly dismembered and had to be placed in polythene bags,” he told reporters. Officers from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) worked quickly to recover the victims and transport them to mortuaries in Mankranso and Adugyama.
Initial reports suggest the ambulance, thought to belong to St Mary’s Catholic Hospital at Drobo, was overtaking another vehicle when the collision occurred. Excessive speed is being cited as a major contributing factor.
Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene has sent his condolences to the bereaved families and the affected communities. He described the crash as a painful reminder of the need for stricter adherence to road safety rules.
The Potrikrom community remains in deep shock as authorities work to clear the road and continue investigations. Police have appealed for calm while forensic teams examine the wreckage and gather statements from survivors and witnesses.
This latest tragedy adds to the long list of fatal road crashes in the region and has renewed calls for improved road infrastructure, stricter enforcement of speed limits, and greater awareness among drivers. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this heartbreaking incident.
