Tragic Accident at Matse Claims Three Lives, Leaves Many Injured & Involves Akome Residents

A tragic accident occurred near Matse in the Volta Region on Friday, October 4th, 2024, around 4 p.m., as a community prepared to mourn one of their own. The incident involved a vehicle carrying mourners from Akome Agate who were enroute to the funeral of a deceased woman, originally from Ave Dakpa, near Aflao. The woman had lived in Akome Agate with her husband before her untimely death, and her final wish was to be buried in her ancestral home at Ave Dakpa. This drew many members of the Akome community to attend the funeral to pay their last respects. Given the cultural importance of the occasion, a car was arranged to transport cooking utensils, a brass band, and several mourners to Ave Dakpa. Additionally, others chose to use motorcycles for the journey.

Because of the large number of people wishing to attend the funeral, the vehicle had to make two trips between Akome Agate and the funeral grounds. The accident occurred during the second trip, less than thirty minutes into the journey. The vehicle, fully loaded with passengers, lost control while navigating the winding road just before Matse, causing it to overturn. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic. The vehicle had swerved before veering off the road and crashing into a ditch. The impact was severe, and the passengers were thrown around inside the vehicle. Emergency responders rushed to the scene to assist the injured, but unfortunately, three of the passengers—two siblings and one other individual—succumbed to their injuries.

All other passengers, including the driver, sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby healthcare facilities for treatment. All of the survivors had head bandages, visibly showing the severity of their injuries. The community of Akome Agate, already dealing with the sorrow of one death, is now burdened with additional grief. The Pleasant Brass Band, Elikplim Borborbor & Jama group, and New life Brass Band which was accompanying the mourners, was also affected, as several of its members sustained injuries.

Preliminary investigations by local authorities suggest that overloading and difficult road conditions were contributing factors to the tragic incident. The roads leading from Akome Agate are known to be curvy, narrow, and winding, and with the vehicle carrying more people and equipment than it was perhaps designed for, maintaining control became an impossible task for the driver.

The Akome community is now grieving for not just one, but four of its members. The sorrowful atmosphere has been compounded by the additional tragedy, leaving many calling for a review of safety practices when traveling in such conditions. Residents have also called for improvements to the road infrastructure in the Volta Region to prevent such accidents from reoccurring. As they mourn, the community is left with difficult questions about what could have been done differently and how future losses can be prevented. This tragic event has highlighted the need for greater caution and awareness, especially during emotionally charged occasions like funerals where the focus is often on honoring the deceased, sometimes at the cost of safety.

Attached are photos and videos from the scene, showing the aftermath of the accident—a stark reminder of how fleeting life can be and the need for greater attention to safety in every circumstance. The entire community now stands in solidarity, grieving the departed and hoping for the recovery of those who were injured.