Tragic Accident Claims 16 Lives of Saviour Church Members on Accra-Kumasi Highway
A devastating head-on collision on the Juaso-Nkawkaw stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway at Atwedie claimed the lives of 16 members of the Saviour Church of Ghana’s Youth Ministry, including two children of the church’s head pastor, on Monday, July 28, 2025, around 2:30 PM.
The victims, aged between 4 and 21, were returning to Obogu in the Asante Akyem South Municipality after attending their annual church congress in Koforidua, Eastern Region.
The accident occurred when a fuel tanker (registration GT 1674-17), traveling from Kumasi to Accra, burst a tire while overtaking another vehicle, causing the driver to lose control and collide with a Ford Transit minibus carrying the church group.
The impact was so severe that the bus’s engine was dislodged, resulting in the immediate death of nearly all passengers onboard. Four survivors are receiving treatment at Juaso Government Hospital, where they are reportedly responding well, according to church Deputy Secretary Kwabena Owusu.
Emergency response teams from the Ghana National Fire Service, Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate (MTTD), and Ambulance Service swiftly arrived at the scene to manage rescue efforts and clear the wreckage.
The 16 bodies have been deposited at the Juaso Government Hospital morgue. Church elder Kofi Baah, in an emotional interview with Adom News, lamented, “Some parents have lost two children, others three. It’s a massive loss.”
The Saviour Church is planning a mass burial for the victims, with arrangements underway to engage bereaved families. The Obogu community and the church are in deep mourning, with hundreds rushing to the hospital upon hearing the news.
The incident has reignited concerns about road safety on the Accra-Kumasi Highway, which saw 7,289 crashes and 1,504 fatalities nationwide from January to June 2025, per the National Road Safety Authority.
Authorities are investigating, with preliminary reports suggesting brake failure or driver fatigue as possible causes.
The tragedy, widely reported by outlets like Citi Newsroom, GhanaWeb, and MyJoyOnline, has prompted calls from the Asante Akyem South MP and local leaders for stricter traffic regulations and enhanced vehicle inspections to prevent further loss of life on this notoriously dangerous highway.
