Pastors and Religious leaders have been urged to use their pulpits and platforms to raise awareness on road safety to curb the increasing carnage on Ghana’s roads.
“The issue is getting out of hand, and so many Ghanaians, including church members, keep dying through road crashes. If we do not add our voices, it will get worse,” the Reverend Cyril Benedict Crabbe, President of the Accident Victims Support Ghana(AVSG), said.
He made the call in Accra on Thursday during a programme dubbed, “Breakfast with the Clergy”, held on the theme: Championing Systems of Support for Crashed Victims.
The event brought together members of the clergy, road safety advocates, insurance companies, health professionals, and accident victims to deliberate on how to strengthen advocacy for road safety in Ghana.
Rev. Crabbe noted that pastors had large congregations and were highly revered in society, as such, it was easy for members to listen to them and mend their ways.
He expressed worry over the low turnout at the event despite invitations to 30 pastors, saying only a handful attended.
“Imagine a pastor like Dr. Mensa Otabil, Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah, Archbishop Duncan-Williams, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Archbishop Agyin-Asare, and others dedicating just five minutes to road safety tips.”
“This will keep ringing in the minds of members. Sadly, the church is not championing it. They only share the grace and leave members to their fate on the roads,” he lamented.
He also appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and the government to prioritise road safety to reduce deaths on Ghana’s roads.
Statistics from the first half of 2025 indicate that Ghana recorded 7,289 road crashes, resulting in 1,504 deaths, 8,364 injuries, and 1,301 pedestrian knockdowns — an average of eight deaths daily.
Contributing to the discussions, the Reverend Ramson Asante Darteh, General Overseer of the All Nations Christian Centre, called for a shift in mindset.
“By virtue of today’s message, our approach to accidents should change. We should all be advocates and sensitise people on the dangers of accidents,” he said.
He stressed that poor road conditions also contributed to crashes and urged government to dualise major highways leading to regional capitals.
“The advocacy must increasingly centre on dualisation because it prevents many crashes,” he noted.
Rev Darteh further called for strict enforcement of roadworthiness, an insurance culture to protect families, and greater responsibility among transport operators.
Rev Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh, General Overseer of New Creation Chapel International (NCCI), North Kaneshie, lauded the initiative and drew lessons from Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.
“Accident victims need support, just as the Samaritan helped the man who was attacked. Think about the fact that in your own circle, accidents can happen to anyone at any time. Beyond speed management, let us practise time management to avoid breaking road rules in our haste,” he said.
He encouraged churches to pray for victims, support them financially, and keep vehicles in good condition.
Quoting Romans 12:2, he added: “Let’s not outdo each other on the roads, but in love.”
Naa Lamile Adade, member of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, expressed concern over faded road markings and broken road signs and called on government to fix them.
She also advised pedestrians to avoid jaywalking and to use footbridges for their safety.
Naa Adade, also an entrepreneur and road safety advocate, urged drivers to desist from speeding, obey all road safety regulations, and become advocates of safety for others.
Representatives from the Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) pledged to support road safety advocacy efforts to help reduce carnage on the country’s roads.
GNA
