In a determined move to tackle the alarming surge in road traffic accidents in the Ashanti Region, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), in collaboration with the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), has organized a capacity-building workshop for selected media practitioners in Kumasi.
The workshop, which took place in the heart of the metropolis, sought to equip journalists with the requisite skills and knowledge to professionally report on road crashes, injuries, and other health-related issues affecting residents. The event forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen public awareness and advocate for safer urban transport systems through data-driven and impactful media reportage.
The initiative comes at a crucial time when road traffic fatalities in the Ashanti Region are reaching disturbing levels. According to data released by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), a total of 194 lives were lost in road crashes in the region within the first quarter of 2025 alone. This represents a sharp increase from the 155 fatalities recorded during the same period in 2024.
The report further indicated that between January and March 2025, the region recorded 1,108 road crash cases, resulting in 1,433 injuries — a significant rise compared to the 1,141 injuries documented during the first quarter of the previous year. Particularly concerning is the increasing number of pedestrian knockdowns, which surged from 118 in early 2024 to 156 in the same period this year. This troubling trend highlights the growing danger faced by pedestrians and other vulnerable road users within the metropolis.
Addressing the media during the training session, Mr. Mark Tonyemovor, Urban Mobility Analyst at Bloomberg Philanthropies, stressed the urgent need for comprehensive urban planning and infrastructure that prioritize road safety.
“There is a critical need to redesign high-risk areas within Kumasi and its surrounding communities where traffic volumes are high, and pedestrian activity is dense,” he stated. “We must begin to view road crashes not just as accidents, but as preventable incidents. This means putting in place strategic interventions that involve education, enforcement, engineering, and constant evaluation.”
Mr. Tonyemovor also underscored the importance of accurate and informed media reporting in shaping public discourse and influencing policy decisions around road safety. He urged journalists to highlight the human cost of road crashes and bring attention to the systemic factors that contribute to them.
On his part, Mr. Kingsley Wireko, Road Injury Surveillance Coordinator at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, expressed grave concern over the rising fatalities and injuries, describing the situation as “very alarming.”
“We all have a role to play in addressing this crisis. Motorists must drive responsibly, obey traffic regulations, and be alert at all times. Pedestrians, too, need to be extremely cautious, especially when crossing roads or walking along highways,” he said.
Mr. Wireko noted that beyond enforcement and infrastructure, behavioural change among all road users is crucial to reversing the negative trends.
The media training is expected to strengthen the role of journalists as key stakeholders in the road safety ecosystem. Participants were taken through best practices in data journalism, ethical reporting on injuries and fatalities, and ways to engage the public on preventive measures.
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and its partners are optimistic that with continuous education, improved road infrastructure, and strategic communication, the region can significantly reduce road crashes and create a safer urban environment for all.
The partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies is part of the broader BIGRS program, which supports cities around the world in implementing proven road safety interventions through a combination of technical support, funding, and public advocacy.
As Kumasi continues to grow and urbanize rapidly, such collaborations are expected to play a vital role in making the city’s roads safer for all users.
