How Traffic Patterns Are Changing Across Accra

From infrastructure upgrades to transport shortages — the forces reshaping how Accra’s residents navigate their city

Executive Introduction

For Accra’s commuters, the daily journey has become a test of endurance. On the Lashibi-Nungua-Teshie-Labadi corridor, passengers queue at bus stations as early as 5:30 a.m., pushing and jostling for a spot in the few available vehicles. On the Circle-Nsawam stretch, a journey that once took less than an hour and a half now stretches beyond three hours . At the Kaneshie-Kasoa station, commuters pay nearly double the approved fare — GHS 15 instead of GHS 8.50 — during peak periods .

This is not a temporary disruption. It is a structural shift in how Accra moves, shaped by major infrastructure projects, transport shortages, and deliberate policy interventions. The Accra-Tema Motorway reconstruction is 48 percent complete, with significant progress on drainage systems and three new interchanges . The AMA has launched a joint decongestion exercise across six assemblies, directing traders to operate behind a designated “Red Line” . And the Mayor has ordered a strict clampdown on illegal roadblocks .

This ASJ report examines how traffic patterns are changing across Accra in 2026: the infrastructure projects reshaping major corridors, the transport shortages affecting commuters, the policy interventions targeting congestion, and the implications for businesses, residents, and city planners.

Part 1: The Infrastructure Shift — Tetteh Quarshie and the Motorway Expansion

The most significant change in Accra’s traffic patterns is the ongoing reconstruction of the Accra-Tema Motorway, which is now 48 percent complete . The project includes the construction of about 20 culverts and three interchanges, with most structures nearing completion .

The Tetteh Quarshie Interchange Disruption

The Tetteh Quarshie Interchange — a critical link on the N1 highway connecting Accra and Madina — is undergoing a major expansion . To facilitate T-beam launching works, the Ghana Highway Authority has implemented a temporary traffic management plan:

• Lanes on the N4 northbound carriageway (Accra to Madina) will be temporarily closed 

• The southbound carriageway (Madina to Accra), which normally carries four lanes, will be reconfigured into two lanes in each direction 

• The arrangement is expected to last approximately four months 

The lane reduction is necessary to create a safe working space for construction personnel and ensure the safety of motorists . However, for thousands of commuters who pass through the interchange daily, the impact is significant — particularly during peak morning and evening periods .

Drainage Improvements as a Long-Term Benefit

A significant portion of the work completed so far has focused on drainage systems and interchanges to address persistent flooding challenges along the route . The consultant noted that these efforts have already reduced flooding along the corridor . The project includes the construction of about 20 culverts , which will help manage water flow and reduce the flood-related disruptions that have historically crippled traffic on the motorway.

Part 2: The Transport Shortage — When Supply Cannot Meet Demand

While infrastructure projects aim to improve long-term traffic flow, a more immediate crisis is unfolding: a severe shortage of commercial vehicles is leaving commuters stranded across the capital .

The Scale of the Problem

The situation has worsened with the onset of the rains, leaving several key roads difficult to navigate . Commuters from areas such as Lashibi, Nungua, Teshie, Labadi, Kasoa, Dawhenya, Kpone Barrier, Tema Community 25, Pokuase, and Nsawam to the Central Business District are among the hardest hit .

The Driver’s Perspective

Drivers attribute the situation partly to heavy traffic congestion, which reduces the number of trips they are able to make each day . On the Circle-Nsawam stretch, many drivers have abandoned the route entirely due to the poor state of the road, which has increased maintenance costs and made operations difficult .

The Commuter Experience

A civil servant, Bismark Amponsah, described the situation as stressful, explaining that he had been waiting for more than an hour and a half after arriving at the roadside at 6 a.m. without securing a vehicle. A trader, Martha Obiyaa, said she had waited for over two hours without success and might have to return home .

Part 3: The Policy Response — Decongestion, Red Lines, and Roadblocks

The AMA Decongestion Exercise

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), in collaboration with five sister assemblies (Korle Klottey, La-Dadekotpon, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso East, and Ablekuna Central), announced a major decongestion exercise beginning February 1, 2026 . Hawkers and traders were directed to vacate the streets and operate behind a designated “Red Line” .

The exercise follows repeated cycles of engagement followed by a return to street trading after brief compliance . The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, stressed that the operation was not intended to deprive traders but to ensure adherence to the Red Line . The Mayor expressed dissatisfaction with the repeated pattern of engagement and return to street trading .

Clampdown on Illegal Roadblocks

In January 2026, the Accra Mayor ordered a strict clampdown on illegal roadblocks across the city, citing concerns over traffic disruption and public safety .

• The directive is part of broader efforts to restore order and ensure roads remain safe and accessible 

• The Mayor warned that the practice of blocking roads without authorisation will no longer be tolerated 

• New measures will tighten the permit approval process, requiring district coordinators to consult the police before granting authorisation for any road closure 

The Circle Reform Proposal

A proposal for decongesting Kwame Nkrumah Circle has emerged, advocating for restricting long-distance and major corridor routes to formal mass transit buses, such as Metro Mass and Aayalolo . The proposal argues that key high-volume routes — such as those to Kasoa, Madina, Teshie, Ashiaman, and Amasaman — should be exclusively served by larger-capacity vehicles, reducing the number of vehicles on the road and improving efficiency .

The proposal also recommends mandating frequent departures (every 10 minutes during peak hours) to eliminate long queues and waiting times .

Part 4: The Lighting and Safety Dimension

The AMA has facilitated the installation of more than 150 streetlights across all electoral areas . The intervention is described as critical to improving visibility, enhancing night-time safety, deterring criminal activity, and protecting pedestrians and other road users, especially in high-risk and poorly lit areas . This improvement in lighting infrastructure may influence traffic patterns over time by enabling safer night-time travel and potentially shifting some journeys to off-peak hours.

Conclusion: Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain?

Accra’s traffic patterns in 2026 are shaped by competing pressures. Major infrastructure projects — the Accra-Tema Motorway reconstruction, the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange expansion — promise long-term relief but are causing significant short-term disruption . Transport shortages are creating severe difficulties for commuters, with long queues, overcrowded terminals, rising fares, and extended travel times becoming daily experiences . Policy interventions — the AMA decongestion exercise, the clampdown on illegal roadblocks, and the Circle reform proposal — aim to restore order but face challenges in enforcement and compliance .

The question is whether the short-term pain will yield long-term gain. The motorway reconstruction is 48 percent complete, with drainage improvements already reducing flooding . The Tetteh Quarshie Interchange expansion, once completed, will ease movement on one of Accra’s busiest corridors . The decongestion exercise, if sustained, could restore order in the Central Business District .

But the transport shortage is not a temporary disruption — it is a structural challenge that will require sustained investment in commercial vehicles, road maintenance, and mass transit infrastructure . Until that investment materialises, Accra’s commuters will continue to face long delays, overcrowded terminals, and the daily struggle to get to work.

Quick Reference: Accra’s Changing Traffic Patterns

Last Updated on July 18, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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