How 952 Ghanaian children died from road crashes in 2019, 2021

Reports from the National Road Safety Authority (GRSA) show that 952 Ghanaian children died from road crashes between 2019 and 2021.

The children who sadly lost their lives suffered fatalities as pedestrians and vehicle occupants over the period indicated by the GRSA.

In all, a total of 188 of the children between 0 and 3 years old lost their lives, while another 166 between ages 4 and 6 also perished in such road crashes.

Further data released on the sad reality also showed 164 between seven and nine, and 434 between 10 and 17 were also lost.

Shirley Haizel-Ferguson, the Project Manager of LADA Institute, a human rights organisation, was of the view that a strengthened legal framework, enhanced awareness, and public education would help to reduce road traffic fatalities among children in Ghana.

She called on all to wake up to reality since children were dying on the roads. She challenged all and sundry to begin to take all reasonable steps to protect their right to life.

The data on the 952 Ghanaian children who died from road crashes in 2019 and 2021 were made public by Mrs. Haizel-Ferguson at a media sensitization workshop organised by LADA Institute in partnership with the Global Road Safety Partnership, the International Federation of Red Cross, the Red Crescent Societies, and the National Road Safety Authority on the use of child restraint equipment and seatbelts for children.

The programme was under the theme “The Policy and Legislative Framework for Child Restraints and Seatbelts for Children in Ghana.”.

It brought together diverse stakeholders to discuss, find solutions to, and reduce such occurrences.
The programme also formed part of the institute’s efforts to provide legislative and advocacy support for the amendment and strengthening of the legislative framework for child restraint and child seat belt usage.”

The project manager said research had shown that there was a linkage between road traffic crash fatalities involving child passengers and the pattern of child restraint usage and child seating behaviour in general.
She said there had been a growing practice where parents or guardians drove without any form of restraint for child occupants.

“More often, one can observe some parents driving with children leaping about in the back seat; babies and toddlers being held in the arms of other adults in the front or back seat; or parents holding a child in their arms while driving,” she said.

Mrs. Haizel-Ferguson said there was a need to address the behavioural pattern, hence calling on stakeholders to always buckle up the child as it was the child’s right to safety.

She, therefore, expressed the belief that the workshop would equip stakeholders with the knowledge and resources to champion safer roads and vehicles and empower their audiences to make informed choices.
Mrs. Haizel-Ferguson said the institute was committed to protecting the rights of children; hence, road safety is a human right and every child’s right.

READ:  NUGS to Host Maiden Edition of Ghana Education Conference

Child restraint systemsA road safety consultant, Ekow Wilson-Asaam, said when restraining children aged 12 and below, a safer place for them in a car was the back seat, only when properly restrained.

He said the wearing of a seatbelt or child restraint would significantly minimise the impact and injuries that might be associated with a crash.

That, he said, would relieve the government, communities, and families of any financial burden they would have to endure during the period of hospitalisation and rehabilitation for surviving victims.

READ: 6th March 2024: The Uncertain Path of Commissioning the National Cathedral

Mr. Wilson-Asaam said the regular seatbelt was not appropriate for use by infants and children, hence the need for an approved and appropriate child safety seat that could fit their weight and size.

READ:  Over 190,000 students placed in Free SHS did not enrol – Eduwatch Report

He added that appropriate child restraint systems were specifically designed to protect infants and young children from injury in the event of a crash.