A tragic road disaster has claimed the lives of at least 15 people and left 25 others nursing various injuries following a violent collision between a cargo truck and a commercial passenger bus at Peki Tsame in the Volta Region.
The fatal incident occurred during the early hours of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, along a section of the highway near Peki Senior High School, triggering a swift emergency response from personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service.
Preliminary information released by the Service indicates that the crash involved a Mercedes Benz container truck bearing registration number WR 1553 C, which was travelling from Nkwanta toward Accra, and a Mercedes Benz passenger bus with registration number GR 3215 E that was journeying from Battor to Kabiti in the Oti Region.
Authorities disclosed that a total of 40 occupants were involved in the devastating accident. The passengers comprised 21 males, 15 females and four children, making it one of the deadliest road crashes recorded in the area in recent months.
Emergency crews from the Peki Fire Station were immediately deployed to the scene after distress reports were received. Upon arrival, firefighters launched an intensive rescue exercise to free victims who had become trapped within the mangled remains of the two vehicles.
The operation resulted in the successful rescue of 25 injured individuals, including 23 adults and two children. The survivors were subsequently transported to the Peki Government Hospital, where medical personnel provided urgent treatment and continued care.
Despite the efforts of rescue teams, 15 people succumbed to injuries sustained in the collision. The deceased comprised nine men and six women, according to figures released by emergency authorities.
Following the recovery process, the bodies of the victims were handed over to officers of the Ghana Police Service and conveyed to the mortuary of the Peki Government Hospital, where they will undergo preservation procedures pending formal identification and further investigations.
Officials have not yet determined the precise circumstances that led to the collision. Investigators are currently examining the scene and gathering evidence to establish the factors that may have contributed to the tragedy.
The latest loss of life on Ghana’s roads has once again intensified concerns regarding highway safety across the country. Road safety advocates have repeatedly highlighted excessive speeding, unsafe overtaking manoeuvres, driver exhaustion and disregard for traffic regulations as some of the leading causes of serious crashes on major transport corridors.
In a statement issued after the incident, the Ghana National Fire Service expressed profound sympathy to the families affected by the tragedy and reiterated the need for motorists to comply strictly with road traffic laws.
The Service further appealed to drivers to demonstrate greater vigilance behind the wheel, exercise patience while travelling and avoid hazardous driving behaviour in order to reduce preventable accidents and protect lives on the nation’s roads.
As investigations continue, the tragedy has left families grieving and communities mourning the sudden loss of loved ones, while renewed calls emerge for stronger enforcement of road safety measures to curb the growing number of fatal crashes across the country.
