Full Length Research Paper
Abstract
Road traffic accident (RTA) injuries and mortalities are some side effects of using automobile vehicles and Ghana is not deprived of them. This study enlightens some effects of road traffic accident mortalities on the Ghanaian economy and investigates its yearly trend, age range distribution and also reveals its influence on economic activities. 832 secondary data obtained on individuals who died through RTA from the Autopsy day book of Pathology Unit, KATH was studied. 15% (126) of the victims were children below 15 years (≤14), 9% (78) are aged over 64 (≥65) years. The total RTA deaths among these two economic dependent age range (≤14 + ≥65) was 25% (204) and that of the economic active population (15-64) is 75%(628). Yearly trend plot shows fluctuations as the working group lies above the dependent population. There is 3:1 death ratio between the economic independent and dependent population respectively, contributing to high dependency ratio in Ghana. Support from the working group towards their families, society and any other dependent population decreases. Economic growth, development and GDP are negatively affected as tax revenue and productivity is comparatively decreasing. The Motor Transport and Traffic Unit should increase its effort to ensure discipline on roads.
Key words: Road traffic accident, active/working population, dependency ratio, mortality, economy.
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