Road chaos in Ho: Tricycles blamed as crash numbers soar

Ho Division Leads Volta in Road Crashes as Tricycles Raise Safety Concerns

Ho recorded the highest number of road crashes in the Volta Region. In 2024, there were 263 incidents and 37 deaths. Motorcycles and tricycles were involved in nearly half of early 2025 accidents. This has raised significant safety concerns among residents.

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reported that Ho led the region in crashes last year. The total for Volta was 525 crashes, a nearly 23% increase from 2023. Although deaths dropped by 30%, Ho remained the worst-hit area.

In the first quarter of 2025, there were 124 road crashes in the region. This resulted in 28 deaths and 142 injuries. While overall crash numbers fell slightly by 2.4%, fatalities rose by 40%. Injuries increased by over 50%. Ho alone had 58 crashes, leading to 11 deaths and 46 injuries.

Motorcycles accounted for almost half of early 2025 crash cases. Meanwhile, private vehicle crashes decreased by over 22%. Tricycles, known locally as aboboyaa, are under scrutiny for their role in these accidents.

Esther Amedzro, a resident of Ho, expressed her concerns: “These tricycles are everywhere. They’re overloaded and don’t follow the rules.” Elikem Agbo, a tricycle operator, defended riders: “We’re not the only ones on the road. The roads are bad.”

Reuben Kafui shared a personal story about his younger brother being hit by a tricycle while walking to school. “He broke his leg and couldn’t go to school for months,” Kafui said.

Residents are advocating for mandatory training and stricter enforcement for all road users. The NRSA has intensified its #StayAlive campaign with public education efforts and surprise inspections.

Joana Fafa Ayer, NRSA's Volta Regional Director, acknowledged the need for better engagement with riders and communities. Residents agree that training and infrastructure upgrades are crucial to reducing accidents.

Charity Dovi, a teacher, emphasized: “People just hop on and ride without training.” She called for a proper system to ensure safety on the roads.

In other news, Dohia achieved Open Defecation Free status in April 2025 after years of sanitation efforts led by World Vision Ghana. The program empowered residents to build toilets and trained local artisans to create affordable facilities.

Dohia’s success serves as a model for how local solutions can improve public health significantly.