The ongoing Accra-Tema Motorway expansion has sparked safety concerns among commuters, traders and motorists who have called for improved traffic management measures as construction works continue.
For thousands of Ghanaians who ply the 19.5-kilometre route daily, a highway once known for faster movement between Accra and Tema has become a bundle of frustration due to heavy traffic, dust and safety risks in some sections of the construction zone.
The expansion project, which started in 2024 is expected to improve mobility along one of Ghana’s busiest transport routes through road widening and drainage upgrades.
Commuters lament
However, some commuters say the ongoing works, particularly along the Manet to Tema stretch, have created difficult conditions, with limited warning signs, inadequate road markings and insufficient separation between vehicles and construction activities.
Emmanuel Mensah, a 42-year-old commercial driver who operates between Accra and Ashaiman, said the project had affected his daily operations.
“A journey that used to take about 20 minutes now takes more than an hour.
We spend more on fuel and make fewer trips each day,” he lamented.
Traders
Meanwhile, traders have not been left out of the constant delays which have affected all business activities.
Veronica, a trader at Ashaiman Market who travels from Spintex every morning, said the prolonged travel time had affected her ability to transport and sell perishable goods.
“Sometimes I cannot carry all the perishable goods I want because of the delays. By the time I return home, some of the items remain unsold,” she said.
She also complained about the dust generated from the construction activities, which she said, made commuting uncomfortable.
A private motorist, who uses the motorway about three times a week, said he fully supported the expansion project but had issues with traffic management during the construction period.
He, therefore, called for temporary rumble strips, clearer road markings and stricter enforcement of traffic control measures to protect motorists and pedestrians.
Concerns over safety along the route intensified following a fatal crash involving a fuel tanker and a tipper truck on the motorway last month.
The accident claimed the life of one person while three others were rushed to hospital for treatment.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Ghana Police Service confirmed the incident, although no direct link was established between the crash and the ongoing expansion works.
Scope of work
According to the contractor, Maripoma Enterprise Limited, the current works on the site included overhead bridges, underbridges, drainage systems, retaining walls and gutters.
“We have put many things in place for drivers and passengers.
We have made diversions and we have safety officers on the ground who help both drivers and pedestrians.
“The safety officers raise their flags so that cars stop and pedestrians can cross the road without any fear,” an official of Maripoma Limited told the Daily Graphic.
The source, however, said some drivers were not cooperating with the safety personnel on site.
“Some drivers are very stubborn.
They do not observe our rules and regulations.
Sometimes, the safety officer raises the flag but drivers ignore it.
Even after seeing the ‘slow down, construction is going on’ signs, some of them still drive through.
“We want them to know that we are all human beings and citizens.
You have to respect everybody’s work,” it complained.
On the project timeline, the source said the expansion works began in 2024 while he joined the project this year.
He expected the project to be completed between 2027 and 2028.
Credit: Graphic Online
