Our roads are meant to serve as reliable networks that transport us safely from our homes and back, but unfortunately, some road networks in Ghana have fallen short of that purpose, as commuters are exposed to danger every time they ply those routes.
Some of these roads are known for regular accidents, while others are known to be hideouts and operational areas of hoodlums.
Reports from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) show that a total of 3,674 road traffic crashes were reported from January to March 2025. These crashes involved 6,143 vehicles of all categories (Private, Commercial, Motorbikes/Cycles, etc.), and 5,039 casualties (752 fatalities/deaths and 4,287 injuries).
Among the top five known dangerous roads and highways in Ghana are:
Accra-Kumasi Highway
This highway, also known as the N6 or National Highway 6, begins at the Nsawam road junction in Accra and runs through Nsawam, Nkawkaw, and Ejisu to Kumasi, where it meets the N4 (Accra-Bunso). The route, which spans a distance of 250 kilometers (160 miles), serves as an alternate to the N4 from Accra to Kumasi and runs through the Greater Accra, Eastern, and Ashanti regions of Ghana. The highway is regarded as one of the most dangerous highways in Ghana, where most accidents occur.
Nsawam-Pokuase road
The Nsawam-Pokuase stretch runs from Ofankor to Nsawam, through to Pokuase. It is an unpaved, dusty road that is currently being constructed. The extremely dusty nature and endless potholes of the road make it accident-prone since drivers find it very difficult to see the road clearly when driving on this route. Most road accidents are recorded on the route.
Accra-Cape Coast Highway
It is also known as the N1. It starts at the Ivory Coast border at Elubo and continues through Sekondi-Takoradi, Cape Coast, Winneba, Accra, and Tema to the Togo border at Aflao. It is the primary route along the country’s coast, covering 540 kilometers (335.5 miles). The highway, which is part of the Trans-African Highway network (highway 7), connects the Ivory Coast to Togo, completing the Dakar-Lagos section.
Tema Motorway
The Tema Motorway, officially known as the N1 roadway, is a 19-kilometre (12-mile) roadway that connects Accra, Ghana’s capital, with Tema, an industrial city. It is the only motorway in the country. Motorists are advised to have patience when driving on this route as it is known to be an accident-prone route.
Tamale-Yendi Highway
It is a 100km stretch run from Tamale through to Yendi in the Northern Region. It is especially not advisable to use that stretch at night as there have been some cases of robbery attacks on the way. The Ghana Police Service is however, on the alert and sometimes escorts vehicles that use that path at night.
Though certain seasons of the year, like Christmas, are known to be associated with road accidents and robbery attacks, some road networks in Ghana are known to be prone to accidents, regardless of which season of the year it is.
