Ground Ghana’s “Road Planes” Before They Claim More Lives

Ground Ghana’s “Road Planes” Before They Claim More Lives

By Lawrence Kojo Addo Cheremeh 

Anyone who has travelled Ghana’s highways for years will remember the grim era when Ford Transit buses ruled the Kumasi–Accra route, leaving behind a trail of mangled vehicles and grieving families. We raised our voices, we marched, we mourned, and finally, action was taken. Their numbers dropped, and the carnage eased. For a while, there was relief.

But that relief has been shattered.

Today, Toyota Hiace vans—locally nicknamed “3fom Aluplay” (Road Plane)—alongside Toyota Voxy and similar mini vans, have taken over our highways with deadly results. They speed along the Kumasi–Accra, Kumasi–Sunyani, Kumasi–Techiman, Kumasi–Tamale, Kumasi–Takoradi, and Takoradi–Tarkwa routes, their popularity fuelled by low operating costs. But while they save fuel, they’re costing lives.

The horrific Obogu accident on July 28, 2025, is a heartbreaking example. A Ford Transit bus carrying members of the Saviour Church Youth Ministry collided head-on with a fuel tanker on the Juaso–Nkawkaw stretch of the N6. Fifteen people died instantly, with another succumbing to injuries later. Entire families were left devastated, and the small Obogu community was plunged into mourning during a mass burial for the 16 victims.

The tragic scene in Obogu is a painful reminder that our intercity transport system is still broken—and reckless commercial van operations are a huge part of the problem.

Speed Without Sense

These vans are routinely pushed to 120 km/h or more. Considering their lightweight frames, high centres of gravity, and narrow wheelbase, their stability at such speeds is questionable—especially on Ghana’s unpredictable road surfaces. At that pace, a burst tyre or sudden swerve can turn the vehicle into a coffin on wheels.

Aggressive, Reckless Driving

The behaviour of some drivers is terrifying: overtaking on blind curves, weaving dangerously through traffic, tailgating heavy-duty trucks. Many treat the highway as a personal race track. As one passenger lamented, “They are maniacs and animals in clothes sitting behind the steering wheel.”

The Hidden Danger of Conversions

A disturbing number of these vans were imported as right-hand drive and converted to left-hand drive by roadside mechanics—many without proper training. Such conversions often result in subtle but deadly mechanical flaws, from steering misalignment to braking inefficiency. Yet these vehicles pass roadworthiness checks without detection.

We Cannot Keep Waiting

The Ford Transit era proved that when the authorities act decisively, lives can be saved. The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), and Ministry of Transport must act now. Key measures should include:

1. Restrict Mini Vans to City Transport
   Toyota Hiace, Voxy, and similar vans should be limited to short-distance and intra-city transport, not long-haul intercity travel.

2. Re-screen and Re-certify Drivers
   Mandatory behavioural, psychological, and advanced driving tests for commercial van drivers should be enforced. Dangerous drivers must be taken off the highways.

3. Ban Unsafe Conversions
   Only certified, trained technicians should convert right-hand drive vehicles, followed by strict post-conversion inspections.

4. Enforce Speed Limits with Technology
   All commercial vans must have speed governors and GPS tracking, with automatic sanctions for violations.

5. Strengthen Highway Policing
   The MTTD should increase patrols along high-risk corridors, targeting speeding, reckless overtaking, and overloading.

The funerals in Obogu should not just be another sad headline—they should be a turning point. If we continue to look away, more names will be added to the list of victims, more families will bury loved ones, and our highways will remain death traps.

We have fixed this problem before. We can do it again. The time to ground these “road planes” is now—before more journeys end in coffins.