At least twelve passengers are battling for their lives following a devastating three-vehicle collision at Gomoa Amenfi on the busy Winneba–Mankessim Highway, an accident that has once again drawn attention to the dangers of reckless overtaking on Ghana’s major roads.
The crash, which occurred in the early hours of the day, involved a Toyota Voxy passenger vehicle with registration number GN 9883-25, a Nissan Altima saloon car bearing registration number GW 1895-09, and a Hyundai Elantra with registration number GR 1972-15.
According to information gathered from police and eyewitnesses at the scene, the Toyota Voxy was conveying passengers from Kasoa to Cape Coast when the driver allegedly attempted a wrongful overtaking manoeuvre at a section of the highway known for its narrow lanes and steady vehicular traffic.
How the Crash Occurred
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the Toyota Voxy veered into the opposite lane in an attempt to overtake another vehicle. In the process, it collided head-on with the Nissan Altima, which was travelling in the opposite direction toward Winneba.
The impact was described as violent, leaving both vehicles extensively damaged. Moments after the initial collision, the Hyundai Elantra, which was travelling behind the Nissan Altima, was unable to stop in time and subsequently rammed into the Toyota Voxy, compounding the severity of the crash.
“The sound was very loud,” an eyewitness told reporters. “People rushed out from nearby shops and houses. Some passengers were screaming, others were unconscious. It was very frightening.”
Casualties and Emergency Response
As a result of the collision:
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Eight passengers aboard the Toyota Voxy sustained critical injuries
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Four occupants of the Nissan Altima were also seriously injured
This brought the total number of casualties to twelve, all of whom were rushed to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Sources at the hospital confirmed that some of the victims arrived with multiple fractures, head injuries and internal bleeding, requiring urgent medical attention. Medical personnel were reportedly stretched as they worked to stabilise the injured, with some patients transferred to intensive care.
Relatives of victims later converged on the hospital premises, anxiously awaiting updates on the condition of their loved ones.
Rescue and Road Clearance
Personnel from the Winneba District Police Command and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) from Apam were dispatched to the scene shortly after the accident was reported.
Fire officers worked swiftly to:
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Rescue trapped passengers from the mangled vehicles
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Prevent fuel spillage from igniting
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Secure the accident scene
Police officers also managed traffic and coordinated the evacuation of the injured to medical facilities. The crash caused heavy traffic congestion on the highway for several hours, as vehicles were forced to slow down or take alternative routes.
Tow trucks were later brought in to remove the wrecked vehicles, allowing traffic to gradually return to normal.
A Dangerous Stretch of Road
The Winneba–Mankessim Highway is a major arterial road linking parts of the Central Region to Accra and other commercial centres. While it plays a crucial role in transportation and trade, it has also gained notoriety for frequent road accidents, many of which are attributed to:
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Speeding
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Wrongful overtaking
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Poor visibility at certain sections
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Driver fatigue
Residents of Gomoa Amenfi say accidents on the stretch are not uncommon and have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, speed controls and improved road signage.
“This road takes lives every year,” a community elder lamented. “Drivers don’t respect traffic rules. They overtake carelessly, and innocent people suffer.”
Police Investigation Underway
The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service has commenced investigations into the crash. Preliminary findings point to dangerous overtaking as the likely cause, though officials say conclusions will only be drawn after a full examination of the incident.
Police are expected to:
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Inspect the vehicles involved
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Interview survivors and eyewitnesses
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Review the road conditions at the crash site
The driver of the Toyota Voxy is expected to assist with investigations once his medical condition stabilises.
Renewed Calls for Road Safety
The accident has reignited calls for enhanced road safety education and stricter enforcement of traffic laws, particularly along highways with high passenger traffic.
Road safety advocates stress that wrongful overtaking remains one of the leading causes of fatal accidents in Ghana, often resulting in head-on collisions with devastating consequences.
Transport unions and civil society groups have urged drivers to exercise patience, obey speed limits and avoid risky manoeuvres, especially when transporting passengers.
“Every trip should end safely,” a road safety campaigner noted. “No destination is worth gambling lives for.”
Conclusion
As the injured victims fight for survival at the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital, the accident at Gomoa Amenfi serves as another painful reminder of the human cost of indiscipline on Ghana’s roads.
While investigations continue, families of the injured remain hopeful, and communities along the Winneba–Mankessim Highway are once again calling for urgent measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
