Image credit: GNFS
SAWLA, Ghana – A coordinated response from bystanders and official rescuers saved seven people, including a trapped driver, after a maize-laden truck overturned on the Sawla-Wa highway.
The incident occurred on Saturday, January 3, 2026. According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the truck, transporting a load of maize, overturned, leaving the driver critically trapped in the cabin.
Initial rescue efforts were undertaken by members of the public who witnessed the accident. They successfully extracted six other occupants from the wreckage and facilitated their immediate transport to the Sawla District Hospital for treatment.
Firefighters from the GNFS upon arrival, also rescue the trapped driver and was subsequently transported to the same medical facility to join the other injured occupants.
The current conditions of the seven individuals have not been officially disclosed by hospital authorities, and the cause of the accident is under investigation by relevant authorities, who are also examining the vehicle's roadworthiness and load compliance.
The Sawla-Wa highway is a critical artery for the movement of goods and people in the Upper West Region.
The GNFS has commended the swift action of the citizens who provided crucial first response, underscoring the importance of community alertness in improving road accident outcomes.
ABOUT SAWLA-WA HIGHWAY:
President John Dramani Mahama commissioned the Bole-Sawla-Wa road project under the Big Push initiative on November 5, 2025, at Sawla in the Savannah Region.
This project is part of a broader effort to transform Ghana's infrastructure, focusing on key corridors like the Wenchi-Bole-Sawla-Wa highway, which connects regional capitals and boosts economic activity.
The Big Push initiative aims to make Ghana's roads among the best in West Africa within two years, with a $10 billion investment in infrastructure development.
Source: Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).