At least 12 people have died and two others remain in critical condition following a devastating head-on collision between a commercial minibus and a long-haul trailer on the Nkenkensu Highway in the Offinso North District of the Ashanti Region.
The fatal accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at approximately 2:00 p.m., disrupting traffic on the major transit route connecting the Ashanti and Bono East regions.
Medical personnel at the Nkenkensu Government Hospital confirmed that 12 passengers were pronounced dead on arrival. The two survivors are currently undergoing emergency treatment at the same facility, where official sources describe their conditions as critical.
Preliminary eyewitness accounts indicate that the tragedy was caused by reckless driving.
The driver of the Kumasi-to-Techiman bound commercial minibus reportedly attempted a high-speed overtaking maneuver, veering directly into the lane of the oncoming trailer, which was heading toward Kumasi.
Local residents and eyewitnesses have raised sharp concerns regarding the delay in emergency medical services.
Eric, an eyewitness who spoke to reporters, noted a significant lapse in emergency response times.
”It took more than an hour before an ambulance arrived to transport the injured victims to the hospital,” he stated.
Personnel from the Ghana Police Service have since cleared the mangled wreckage from the highway to restore the flow of traffic.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Nkenkensu Government Hospital morgue for preservation and formal identification.
An official investigation into the exact cause of the crash has been launched.
Local authorities have used the incident to reiterate warnings against dangerous driving practices, noting that the tragedy adds to a worrying national trend of severe accidents linked to illegal overtaking on major highways.