The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) reported that over 4,700 road crashes occurred between January and April of this year, resulting in more over 1,000 deaths and 5,591 injuries.

This was revealed during a stakeholder engagement with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), following a previous unsuccessful attempt to hold the meeting on Thursday, May 29.

In a presentation at the engagement, NRSA Principal Manager Dennis Yirebu noted a concerning trend: a 13% increase in injuries, a 7% increase in pedestrian knockdowns, and a 6% increase in crashes compared to earlier periods.

"There have been 6% more crashes and nearly 7% more automobiles and pedestrians hit. We have also seen a 13% increase in injuries," he added.

According to the NRSA, the lack of road signage across the country is a major contributing cause to the increase in accidents.

To remedy this, the Authority has asked all MMDAs in the Greater Accra Region to remove billboards located on road medians, which it claims are a major cause of traffic accidents because they hinder drivers' view.

Speaking during the engagement on the implementation of the NRSA Act and its rules, NRSA Director-General Abraham Amaliba highlighted that the instruction is not a blanket removal of all billboards, but rather a targeted strategy centered on traffic safety.

He also directed the assembly to form and activate Road Safety Committees to improve the coordination and implementation of safety measures.