UEW Scholar Champions Road Safety Research in Zambia
Prof. Enoch F. Sam, an academic and Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Development at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), represented the University and Ghana at the AfroSAFE Academy Conference in Lusaka, Zambia.
The event was held from Wednesday, 10th to Thursday, 11th June 2026, where he presented two research papers on critical road safety challenges in Ghana.
A member of the AfroSAFE Project Consortium, Prof. Sam first presented on “How Fatal is Fatal? How Serious is Serious? A Content Analysis of Newspaper Reportages on Road Crashes in Ghana.” In his presentation, he examined inconsistencies in media reporting of road crashes and injury severity. He highlighted their implications for public understanding, policy development and road safety advocacy.
His second paper, “The Moderating Influence of Fatalistic Traffic Beliefs on Pedestrians' Risk Perception and Safe Walking Behaviour in Ghana,” explored how cultural and fatalistic beliefs influence pedestrian safety behaviour. The study provides important evidence for developing culturally responsive road safety interventions and for improving understanding of the psychological factors shaping road-user behaviour.
On Friday, 12th June, 2026, Prof. Sam also showcased Ghana’s achievements under the AfroSAFE Project. He highlighted progress in road safety research, capacity building, policy engagement and stakeholder collaboration through the Horizon Europe-funded initiative.
As part of the programme, he served as a panellist at a Horizon Europe event themed “From Proposal to Impact: African Experiences in Horizon Europe.” The session brought together researchers, policymakers and development partners to discuss experiences in securing and implementing Horizon Europe projects. Prof. Sam shared practical lessons from the AfroSAFE Project, focusing on international collaboration, research excellence, stakeholder engagement and the translation of research findings into policy and practice.
Speaking after the conference, Prof. Sam noted that the event provided a valuable platform to showcase Ghana’s growing contribution to road safety research while strengthening international partnerships that support evidence-based transport safety policies across Africa.
The conference further reinforced UEW’s commitment to impactful research and its contribution to addressing critical transport and public safety challenges through innovation, multidisciplinary scholarship and global partnerships.
