A 23-year-old man has died in a horrific accident involving an overloaded tricycle, popularly known as aboboyaa, at Okyerekrom in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region.
The deceased, identified as Kingsley Kwaku Atta, was riding as a pillion passenger on the tricycle, which was conveying approximately 20 timber logs at the time of the incident. The vehicle was en route from Bayerebon Number 5 to Antwi Adjei Nkwanta when the tragedy occurred.
According to Alexander Akwasi Yeboah, Assemblyman for the area, the rider lost control of the vehicle upon encountering a rough stretch of road.
“A group of young men had loaded the tricycle with timber and were heading toward Antwi Adjei Nkwanta. Unfortunately, upon reaching a bad portion of the road, the rider lost control, resulting in the crash,” Mr. Yeboah explained to journalists.
The Assemblyman confirmed that the rider and another injured victim were rushed to the Nyinahin Government Hospital, where they are currently receiving medical attention.
Expressing deep concern over the recurring nature of such incidents, Mr. Yeboah attributed the rising number of accidents to the indiscriminate use of tricycles for purposes beyond their design capacity.
“The misuse of aboboyaa is becoming alarming and poses a serious threat to lives. We continue to record preventable accidents because of overloading and reckless handling,” he warned.
The Assemblyman took the opportunity to appeal to young people in the district to exercise greater caution and prioritise safety.
“I want to appeal to the youth to use tricycles strictly for their intended purpose—transporting goods—and to avoid overloading or engaging in unsafe practices that could lead to more tragic losses,” he advised.
The incident has once again brought to the fore the growing concerns about road safety and the regulation of tricycles used for commercial purposes in the district.
