ABSTRACT

In 2001, Ghana was ranked as the second highest road accident prone nation in comparison to six other West African countries. This controversial accolade was attributed to the statistical analysis that exposed a fatality rate of 73 deaths per 1000 accidents in Ghana. In addition to the physical pain and emotional suffering of victims, their relatives and friends, this social cancer attracts huge economic costs that affect productivity and subsequently the country’s economy. According to the National Road Safety Commission, in 2009, the economic cost of road traffic accidents exceeded beyond 400 million U.S. dollars. This study assumed the design of a non-experimental, retrospective, cross-sectional study. It was focused on the road traffic accident cases that were reported at LEKMA Hospital in Teshie, located in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, during the period of 2010 to 2015. One hundred and eighty five (185) reported road traffic accident cases were analysed and revealed several trends consistent with other research conducted worldwide.

Male victims continued to dominate the victim tally, especially within the age group of 15 – 49 years. Abrasions and lacerations represented the most common injuries sustained by victims and only one fatality was reported within the research period. The statistics did not establish any days or months in particular as to when road traffic accidents were likely to occur. The number of road traffic accidents are gradually reducing, according to the statistics. However, there is great scope for further research to be conducted in order to establish whether the incidence and prevalence rates of road traffic accidents are actually reducing or whether other factors related to reporting are influencing the statistics and conveying a different message.