Road accidents in The Gambia have claimed 2,142 lives from 2020 to 2022, according to statistics read out in parliament yesterday (27 September).

Amadou Camara, member for Nianija constituency, who tabled the subject before lawmakers described the road accidents data as “alarming” and called for urgent solution to the problem. 

“Statistics have revealed that in 2020 and 2021 the country has officially recorded 789 and 971 road traffic accidents respectively. This has shown an increase in the number of accidents from 2020 to 2021.

“What is more alarming is that the first quarter of 2022 has registered 382 road traffic accidents. This means if the trend continues by the end of 2022, we may register close to 1,000 road accidents. This is definitely unacceptable,” he said.

“I wish to draw the attention of the government and in particular the minister for the interior to look into the issue of road traffic accidents with a view of instituting stringent measures in mitigating it. 

“We cannot continue to tolerate the tragic loss of lives to road traffic accidents. Equally, I call on the standing committee on defence and security of this august assembly to initiate a parliamentary enquiry into the matter and proffer solutions to it,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba