On Saturday, January 17, 2026, a fatal accident rocked Kumawu Zongo in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, when a heavy-duty truck lost control and crashed into a container hairdressing salon around 4:00 p.m., killing five people on the spot.
The victims included the proprietor of the salon, identified as Madam Esther, her two young children, and a customer who was inside the container shop having her hair braided at the time of the crash. The force of the impact completely destroyed the structure, leaving those inside with no chance of escape.
Four other people sustained injuries in the incident, including the driver of the truck. One victim, reported to be in critical condition, was transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, while the remaining injured persons are receiving treatment at nearby health facilities.
Preliminary information indicates that the truck, which was transporting sand from a nearby road construction site, lost control before ploughing into the salon.
This is not the first safety scare linked to trucks operating on the Kumawu road project. In an earlier incident, a vehicle involved in the same construction works reportedly crashed into a mosque, though no fatalities were recorded at the time.
The latest tragedy has heightened fear among residents of Kumawu Zongo, who are now calling on authorities and the construction firm to urgently enforce stricter safety measures to prevent further loss of life.
The incident has been made even more heartbreaking by revelations from Esther’s husband, who disclosed that his wife had struggled with childlessness for many years and was finally expecting a baby. Tragically, neither Esther nor her unborn child survived the crash.
According to him, he had dreamed about an accident the night before and pleaded with his wife not to go to the salon that day. However, Esther reportedly chose to open the shop after a regular customer urgently requested her services — a decision that led to the tragic loss of her life, her unborn child, her apprentice, a customer, and another child.
The community remains in mourning as calls for accountability and improved road safety continue.
