Accident Victims Support Unit Calls for Urgent Review of National Compensation Fund to Better Assist Road Crash Victims
The Accident Victims Support Unit has appealed to the government to urgently review the operations of the National Compensation Fund, arguing that the current system is failing to provide adequate support to vulnerable road accident victims and their families.
In a passionate interview with Adom News, the President of the unit, Rev. Cyril Benedict Crabbe, highlighted the heavy financial and emotional burdens many families continue to carry long after tragic crashes. He made the call during a courtesy visit to Mrs. Juliet Quayson, a grieving mother who lost all five of her children in a fatal accident on the Osino road last year.
Rev. Crabbe stressed that the Compensation Fund established to offer relief and financial assistance in such distressing circumstances is not effectively serving those it was meant to protect.
“We at the Accident Victims Support Unit believe we are all vulnerable,” he said. “We are calling on everyone, especially managers of the Compensation Fund, to come on board. It is time we highlight the activities and operations of the fund to educate the public on what support is available in cases like that of this mother and many others we have encountered.”
He added that the increasing frequency of road accidents and the immense challenges faced by victims demand a more responsive, transparent, and impactful system:
“It is worrying that accidents are becoming too frequent, and the challenges victims and their families go through are enormous, yet there is a fund that could help wipe away their tears and lessen their pain. We are calling for a review of the fund to enable it extend meaningful assistance to such victims.”
Heartbreaking Testimony from Bereaved Mother
Mrs. Juliet Quayson, now a widow, shared her painful experience during the visit. She revealed that she bore all funeral and related costs herself, and still struggles with an outstanding balance of GH¢30,000. No insurance payout, government support, or assistance from any authority has reached her since the tragedy.
“Both during and after the funeral, I bore all the costs myself. I am still struggling with an outstanding balance of GH¢30,000. There has been no insurance package or financial support,” she lamented.
Mrs. Quayson appealed directly to the authorities to come to her aid and support the broader call for a comprehensive review of the Compensation Fund to ensure it truly helps vulnerable victims and grieving families.
Rev. Crabbe and the Accident Victims Support Unit reiterated their commitment to advocacy, urging the government particularly President John Dramani Mahama and relevant stakeholders to act swiftly to strengthen the fund and make it more accessible and effective.
The tragic case of Mrs. Quayson has once again spotlighted the urgent need for better road safety measures, improved support systems for accident victims, and a more efficient Compensation Fund that can provide timely and meaningful relief to those left behind after devastating crashes.
The Ministry of Roads and Highways, the National Road Safety Commission, and the Social Protection Ministry are yet to respond publicly to the latest appeal, but the growing calls for reform are expected to keep the issue in the national spotlight.
