Drunk driving has been identified as a leading cause of road accidents in the Western Region, with 465 people losing their lives in 2,800 accidents recorded between January and November 2025, according to figures from the Motor Traffic and Transport Division (MTTD).
The alarming statistics have prompted the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, to call for a comprehensive national policy framework to curb the rising spate of road crashes across the country. He made the call while addressing reporters at a stakeholders’ meeting on “Safe and Responsible Driving During the Festive Season” on December 23.
Mr Nelson noted that while enforcement remains crucial, the police are constrained by inadequate logistics, particularly in checking drunk driving.
“Listening to the police has clarified the necessary policy interventions. It is clear that enforcement is hampered by a lack of resources. Therefore, we must enhance the police’s capacity to check for drunk driving,” he stated.
The Western Regional MTTD Commander, Superintendent Paul Bruce Amoah, attributed about 90 to 95 percent of road accidents in the region to human error, citing drunk driving, overspeeding, and unnecessary overtaking as the main causes.
“The vast majority of these accidents are attributable to driver error. This clearly indicates that human behaviour is the predominant factor in our road safety crisis,” he explained.
Police commanders in the Western and Western Central Regions also highlighted operational challenges, particularly the lack of adequate breathalyser equipment for effective enforcement.
DCOP Frank Abrokwa, Western Regional Police Commander, revealed that the few breathalysers available are meant for health purposes and cannot be used extensively in road operations.
Adding to the concern, DCOP Desmond Owusu Boampong, Western Central Police Commander, lamented that even when offenders are prosecuted, low fines ranging between GH¢30 and GH¢60 often weaken the deterrent effect.
“Such negligible penalties dampen our morale and undermine our efforts to get drunk drivers off the road,” he said, calling for stricter sanctions to send a clear message that drinking and driving is unacceptable.
Nationally, Ghana recorded about 13,000 road accidents and 2,600 fatalities between January and November 2025, underscoring the urgent need for stronger enforcement, tougher penalties, and sustained public education on road safety
