Police Investigate Tragic NDC Rally Accident In Ejura/Sekyedumase Leading To Death Of 8-Year-Old Girl

Police in the Ashanti Region have launched an investigation into a fatal accident that claimed the life of eight-year-old Musharafat Awudu in Hiawuanwu, Ejura/Sekyedumase. The incident occurred on Saturday, October 19, 2024, when a tricycle, commonly known as ‘Aboboyaa,’ overturned while transporting more than 20 passengers to a political rally organized by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to eyewitnesses, the tricycle’s rider lost control while trying to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming motorcycle. This caused the vehicle to swerve off the road and overturn, throwing the passengers onto the ground. Musharafat, who was found unresponsive at the scene, was rushed to the Ejura Government Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Several other passengers sustained injuries and received treatment at the same facility.

Political Rally Connection

The accident occurred shortly after NDC’s National Communications Director, Sammy Gyamfi, had concluded a campaign tour in the area. Kwa-Sam Samuel, the Deputy Secretary of the NDC in the Ejura/Sekyedumase Constituency, expressed the party’s condolences and affirmed their willingness to cooperate fully with the police investigation.

“They are party faithful from the same family who wanted to attend the rally at Hiawuawu. Unfortunately, this tragic incident happened before they could reach the venue,” Samuel stated. He also called the incident a wake-up call for political parties to re-evaluate their transportation strategies for campaign events.

National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) Intervention

In response to this and similar accidents, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has been engaging political parties ahead of the upcoming December elections to curb the rising number of road accidents during election years. Pearl Adusu Sateckla, the NRSA’s Public Relations Officer, highlighted that research has shown a correlation between election periods and an increase in road crashes.

To address this issue, the NRSA has held meetings with political parties and reviewed road safety protocols. Political parties were encouraged to incorporate road safety measures into their campaign strategies and manifestos. As part of this initiative, parties signed a pact committing to prioritize road safety throughout their campaigns.

“We made them sign a pledge to ensure that road safety becomes a central part of their policies and manifesto, and to discuss it on their campaign platforms,” Sateckla said. The NRSA also plans to continue engaging with political parties at district, constituency, and regional levels to ensure these safety measures are implemented effectively.

This tragic accident has brought renewed focus on the need for safer transportation practices, especially during politically charged periods when road safety can often be overlooked. The police investigation into the accident is ongoing, and authorities are expected to release further details in due course.

Source: GhanaFeed.Com