Ghana’s N6 Highway crash has brought traffic to a complete halt after a multi-vehicle collision blocked the Birimso Bridge section of the busy Accra-Kumasi road on Monday, August 3, 2026.

According to the Ghana Police Service, the collision involved a passenger bus carrying numerous passengers, a fully loaded articulated truck and a saloon car. The accident has rendered the stretch impassable, leaving vehicles stranded in both directions while emergency responders work at the scene.

The Eastern South Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) based in Kibi has been dispatched to control traffic, secure the accident scene and coordinate efforts to restore movement along the highway.

To reduce the severe congestion, police have introduced temporary traffic diversions. Motorists travelling from Kumasi towards Accra are being redirected through Kibi at Nsutam, while drivers heading from Accra to Kumasi have been advised to use the Apedwa route.

Authorities are urging all road users to remain calm, comply with directions from police officers and approach the diversion points with caution to ensure the safety of motorists and emergency personnel.

The N6 Highway serves as one of Ghana’s busiest transport corridors, linking Accra and Kumasi while facilitating the movement of passengers, commercial vehicles and goods between the southern and central parts of the country. The blockage at Birimso Bridge has significantly disrupted travel and commercial activities along the strategic route.

Police have not yet released information on the cause of the collision or confirmed whether there were fatalities or injuries as investigations continue.

President John Dramani Mahama has directed a temporary reduction of GH¢2.00 per litre in the regulatory margin on diesel to ease the burden of rising fuel costs on Ghanaians.

The directive, announced by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, follows a Cabinet decision and builds on a similar intervention introduced in April 2026.

The one-month measure is aimed at cushioning consumers, preventing increases in transport fares, containing inflationary pressures, and reducing the impact of higher fuel prices on the overall cost of living.

According to the statement, the reduction will take effect from Tuesday, 4 August 2026, and will remain in force for one month unless the government decides to review the policy.

The Presidency said the government will continue to closely monitor developments in the international energy market and implement additional policy measures where necessary to safeguard the interests of Ghanaians and sustain the country’s economic recovery

The Government Must Intervene Over Recent Fuel Price Hikes, according to the Institute for Energy Security (IES), which has warned that the latest increases in petroleum prices are placing unbearable financial pressure on households, businesses, and transport operators across Ghana.

In a statement issued on August 3, 2026, IES expressed deep concern over the continued upward adjustment in fuel prices, stressing that the trend is increasing the cost of living and threatening economic stability. The institute urged the government to take swift policy action to protect consumers from the impact of rising petroleum prices.

According to IES, fuel is a major input in transportation, agriculture, manufacturing, and commerce. As a result, higher pump prices inevitably trigger increases in transport fares, food prices, production costs, and inflation, while weakening the purchasing power of households.

The institute noted that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly vulnerable, as rising fuel costs continue to increase operational expenses and reduce profitability.

IES acknowledged that petroleum prices are largely determined by international crude oil prices, movements in the foreign exchange market, and Ghana’s petroleum pricing framework. However, it maintained that government cannot remain passive when external market shocks significantly affect the welfare of citizens and the broader economy.

The think tank recalled that earlier this year, the government implemented policy measures that absorbed approximately GH¢2.00 per litre in fuel costs to ease the burden on consumers. According to IES, that intervention demonstrated the government’s commitment to protecting Ghanaians from petroleum price volatility and showed the importance of timely policy responses during periods of rising fuel prices.

IES believes the current market conditions justify a similar intervention and has therefore called on the government to urgently engage stakeholders and implement the same relief measures to cushion consumers against the latest fuel price increases.

The institute also urged authorities to intensify efforts to stabilise the Ghana cedi, describing exchange rate depreciation as one of the major factors driving domestic fuel price increases. It said maintaining a stable cedi would reduce the impact of global oil price fluctuations on Ghana’s fuel market and help keep petroleum prices under control.

IES concluded that prompt government intervention would not only provide immediate relief to consumers
but also help contain inflationary pressures, protect businesses, and support economic stability.

IES FUEL

GES recruitment has come under renewed scrutiny after the Coalition of Unemployed Graduates with Disabilities issued a one-week ultimatum to the Government of Ghana, demanding the immediate recruitment of its members into the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the enforcement of the government’s 5% employment quota for persons with disabilities.

At a press briefing on Monday, August 3, 2026, the coalition accused the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service of failing to honour assurances made following an earlier protest on March 24, 2026, when officials allegedly promised that unemployed graduates with disabilities would be systematically absorbed into the public sector.

According to the coalition, approximately 7,000 personnel were recruited during the recent GES recruitment exercise. It said it had submitted a verified list of 200 qualified graduates with disabilities holding diplomas and degrees in education and humanities from accredited universities and colleges of education across Ghana for consideration.

However, the group alleged that none of the graduates on its submitted list received appointment letters despite what it described as assurances that a minimum 5% recruitment quota for persons with disabilities would be implemented. The coalition argued that a 5% allocation from 7,000 recruitments should have translated into at least 350 placements for persons with disabilities.

The coalition described the outcome as “systemic discrimination” and “institutional neglect,” saying many qualified graduates with disabilities have remained unemployed for several years despite completing tertiary education.

The group also criticised Parliament, claiming that petitions submitted to the Speaker, the Majority Caucus and the Minority Caucus over the unemployment situation had not received the necessary attention or action. It argued that Parliament had failed to exercise its oversight responsibility to ensure compliance with existing laws protecting persons with disabilities.

The coalition further contended that the government’s actions violate both domestic and international legal obligations, including Ghana’s Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and Sustainable Development Goal 8, which promotes inclusive employment opportunities. It also referenced International Labour Organisation recommendations supporting employment quota systems for persons with disabilities.

Referring to President John Dramani Mahama’s recent launch of the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities policy, the coalition said the President had publicly committed to implementing a 5% employment quota for persons with disabilities across public and private sector recruitment while incentivising private employers to hire qualified persons with disabilities. The coalition claimed the recent GES recruitment contradicted that commitment.

As part of its demands, the coalition called on President Mahama to remove the Minister for Education and the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, alleging that they failed to implement the President’s directive regarding the 5% quota. It also urged the GES to issue appointment letters immediately to the graduates whose names had been submitted during the recruitment process.

Beyond the education sector, the coalition appealed to the President to direct the Minister for Finance to grant financial clearance for qualified non-teaching graduates with disabilities to be employed into institutions including the Local Government Service, Civil Service, Ghana Revenue Authority and other public sector agencies.

The coalition warned that if the government does not provide official written commitments addressing its concerns within one week, members from all 16 regions of Ghana will begin what it described as an indefinite peaceful occupation of Jubilee House, the Ministry of Finance and the GES Headquarters in Accra.

The statement concluded with an appeal to media organisations to continue highlighting what the coalition described as the injustices facing unemployed graduates with disabilities and to provide platforms for public discussion on the matter. The statement was signed by the coalition’s convener, Gilbert Boateng Agyare.

press statement by the coalition of unemployed graduates with disabilities on the recent GES recruitment and the way forward of their members.

The Public Utility Workers’ Union (PUWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC)-Ghana has opposed the government’s decision to appoint a Transaction Advisor to facilitate Private Sector Participation (PSP) in the operations of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo).

In a press release issued on August 3, 2026, PUWU expressed disappointment that the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition proceeded with the appointment without first engaging organised labour, despite earlier assurances that consultations would take place before any major decision was made.

According to the union, the government had informed the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) that the Ministry would lead a comprehensive stakeholder consultation process on the proposed ECG Private Sector Participation initiative before the appointment of a Transaction Advisor.

PUWU said it was therefore surprised that the Ministry moved ahead with the appointment without fulfilling that commitment or adequately involving key stakeholders, particularly workers within the electricity distribution sector.

The union further stated that previous engagements between government and workers had created the expectation that organised labour would be consulted on any major policy direction affecting ECG and NEDCo.

PUWU described the latest development as unfortunate, questioning why the concerns and perspectives of workers, who play a critical role in the operations of the power distribution companies, had not been fully considered.

The union reiterated its long-standing position against attempts to privatise ECG and NEDCo, arguing that the challenges facing the companies can be addressed through internal reforms rather than transferring management responsibilities to private entities.

PUWU said it has consistently advocated reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency, financial sustainability, and service delivery within the electricity sector.

The proposed measures include strengthening revenue mobilisation, expanding the use of technology, improving procurement systems, enforcing financial discipline, investing in network expansion, developing staff capacity, and enhancing accountability mechanisms.

According to PUWU, these interventions would help resolve the operational difficulties facing ECG and NEDCo while maintaining public ownership and control of the country’s electricity distribution infrastructure.

The union argued that the government has not provided sufficient evidence to prove that private sector participation would produce better results compared to comprehensive reforms led by workers and management.

PUWU has therefore called on the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition to suspend the Transaction Advisor appointment process and begin broader consultations with organised labour and other relevant stakeholders before proceeding with any decision concerning the ECG Private Sector Participation agenda.

PRESS RELEASE -APPOINTMENT OF TRANSACTION ADVISOR TO FACILITATE PSP IN ECG