Road accidents a public health emergency – GMA
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has raised serious alarm over the increasing number of road accidents across the country, describing the situation as a public health emergency that demands urgent national attention.
Speaking at the 44th Annual General Meeting of the Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners in Cape Coast, the President of the Association, Dr. Frank Serebuor, called for swift interventions to address the deteriorating state of road infrastructure while urging motorists to exhibit discipline and responsibility on the roads.
He referenced recent fatal crashes that claimed multiple lives, emphasising the need for concerted efforts among stakeholders to halt what he termed an “escalating crisis.”
“Even our single-lane roads are in such deplorable condition that every trip on them feels like a dance with death,” Dr. Serebuor lamented. “Sadly, to add salt to injury, our drivers ply these terrible roads with careless abandon.”
He warned that the frequent and deadly accidents are not just transport issues but a serious national health threat, particularly because they often affect the productive age group of the population.
“Road accidents continue to kill and maim the active-age population, with little or no action from any authority. It is widely accepted that intelligence should reflect in our actions, but we live in a system where we’ve become emotionally immune to the carelessness around us,” he said.
Dr. Serebuor stressed that the rising trend of road crashes reflects a pattern of negligence and systemic inaction, urging both government agencies and the public to take collective responsibility in reversing the trend.
