DROBO-BOUND DOOM: 16 JAMAN SOUTH INDIGENES PERISH IN HORRIFIC POTRIKROM CRASH — MCE SIATA WATARA, MP COL. DAMOAH LEAD MUNICIPALITY IN TEARS

DROBO-BOUND DOOM: 16 JAMAN SOUTH INDIGENES PERISH IN HORRIFIC POTRIKROM CRASH — MCE SIATA WATARA, MP COL. DAMOAH LEAD MUNICIPALITY IN TEARS

A wave of grief has swept through the  Jaman South Municipality in the Bono Region, following a fatal road crash that has claimed the lives of at least 16 people, many of them natives of the municipality.

The tragic accident occurred on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Potrikrom on the Kumasi–Sunyani highway in the Ahafo-Ano South East District. It involved an ambulance from St. Mary’s Hospital in Drobo and a Ford Transit bus believed to be heading toward Drobo, the capital of Jaman South.

According to eyewitness accounts, the ambulance was transporting a pregnant woman on emergency referral to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital when the collision happened. Reports suggest the ambulance attempted to overtake another vehicle but could not complete the manoeuvre, resulting in a head-on crash with the oncoming Ford Transit bus travelling from Kumasi toward Bechem.

The impact was devastating. Several passengers aboard the Ford Transit bus reportedly died instantly, while others sustained critical injuries. Officers from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) at Mankranso conveyed the victims to mortuaries at Mankranso and Adugyama, as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.

Many of the deceased have been identified as indigenes of Jaman South, deepening the sorrow within the municipality. The Ford vehicle was said to be Drobo-bound at the time of the accident, carrying passengers returning home.

Reacting to the tragedy, the Municipal Chief Executive for Jaman South, Hon. Siata Watara, described the incident as a painful and devastating loss to the entire municipality. In a statement issued on March 3, she extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and assured them of the Assembly’s support during this difficult period. She also wished the injured a speedy recovery and urged motorists to strictly observe road safety regulations.

Similarly, the Member of Parliament for Jaman South, Hon. Col. Kwadwo Damoah, expressed profound sympathy to the affected families. He noted that the loss has left families, friends, and the entire constituency in shock and mourning, adding that his thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted.

The tragedy has once again drawn attention to safety concerns on the busy Kumasi–Sunyani stretch, a key corridor linking several communities across the Ashanti and Bono regions.

As families begin the painful process of identifying and laying their loved ones to rest, the people of Jaman South mourn not just individuals, but breadwinners, mothers, fathers, and young lives whose journeys were abruptly cut short.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash.