Fear swept through Tafo Zongo in Kumasi around 8:15 p.m. on Thursday when a trotro lost its brakes and sped uncontrollably down the steep stretch from the Tafo Methodist Church toward Zamfara.

Witnesses say people ran for their lives as the vehicle picked up dangerous speed.

The trotro, with registration number AS 9990-10, crashed straight into the 45 Mosque, slamming into the area where worshippers normally perform ablution. Part of the structure was damaged, but fortunately, no injuries were recorded.

Eyewitnesses described the incident as terrifying, recalling that a man who had been lying down precisely where the vehicle landed narrowly escaped after frantic shouts warned him to flee.

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Residents say this is the fifth brake-failure accident on the same stretch. In one previous incident, a young boy was struck and killed instantly. Locals say they are frustrated and fearful, insisting the recurring problem has been ignored for too long.

The driver, 25-year-old Amampanah Ayimini, recounted that he had closed for the day and dropped off his conductor near the Methodist Church. He was driving down the hill to use the washroom when his brakes unexpectedly failed.

“There is nothing wrong with the car. When it happened, even the gear wasn’t working,” he said.

The old trotro was left badly mangled, its worn-out interior suggesting longstanding mechanical issues before the crash.

Residents say the road’s steep gradient and heavy evening pedestrian traffic make it especially dangerous. They are urgently calling for stronger speed bumps and other safety interventions to prevent more tragedies.

“We never knew a car could crash into this place. Luckily, the children had not closed from their evening Islamic studies. It would not have been good news,” one resident said.

More than five hours after the crash, crowds remained at the scene, discussing how to protect the community and prevent yet another frightening accident.