Traffic jam on Weija-Kasoa highway

I experienced something on Monday, June 15, that really frustrated me.  I had to go to the ministries but I could not get up early that day so I decided to pick a taxi and get to the Tuba Junction. 

When I got there I realised that Traffic had built up from the Toll Booth towards Accra.  After a while I got a Taxi and it was when we got to a certain spot on the road, that I realised why there was a traffic jam. 

There is a short stretch of the road where each time it rains heavily, loose material run down the hill onto the road, blocking one side of the road.  Vehicles from Kasoa to Accra are then forced to move into one of the lanes of those going towards Kasoa from Accra. 

The two lane road from Accra to Kasoa becomes a single carriage way.  That was the reason for the traffic jam from the toll booth onwards.

This has been a perineal problem and yet, no permanent solution has been found till date.  The area falls under Ga South and even though, a new MCE has taken over, the technocrats are still there and so the problem is not new to them.  

There is therefore no excuse for the inability of the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly to resolving the problem on that stretch of the road.  Apart from the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly, another institution that must be held accountable is the Ghana Highways Authority. 

The Highways Authority cannot say they are unaware of this issue.  The fact that the problem falls within the area of responsibility of the Ga South Assembly, does not relieve the Ghana Highways Authority, of their responsibility of ensuring that our highways are maintained in a motorable state at all times. 

A collaboration between the Ghana Highways Authority and The Ga South Municipal Assembly is required for a permanent resolution of the problem.

There was another traffic jam at a place called Atala about 250 metres to the traffic light at Old Barrier as a result of an issue similar to the one close to the toll booth, that I talked about earlier. 

When we got to Weija junction, we encountered another traffic jam. The cause of this jam was a bad condition of road about 80 metres from the traffic light at Ga South Hospital heading towards Accra.  

Due to the bad nature at that section of the road, vehicles are compelled to slow down resulting in a traffic jam stretching all the way to Weija Junction.  

I started wondering if that short stretch of road cannot be sorted on one Sunday when traffic is usually light.  When we got to the traffic light at Odorkor, there was another issue. 

When the traffic light shows green, there is a slow down because there is a big pothole or should I say manhole in the outer lane, right at the traffic light.  Vehicles in the outer lane are compelled to swerve into the second lane thereby causing a traffic to slow down and resulting in a traffic jam.

It is very important to take into account the effect of traffic jam on the national economy.  If we are able to assess the value of the loss to the economy of the nation, I believe the issue of traffic jam will be prioritised. 

Imagine persons working at various Government Organisations like Registrar General’s Department, Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, CEPS etc. and lives at Kasoa and whose job is to collect revenue for the state and is held up in traffic. 

Just imagine the effect their lateness to work will have on the economy if you consider the delays in say clearing of goods at the port and as a result traders cannot sell their goods for government to generate the required taxes.

Let us deal with the traffic jams on our streets to promote economic growth. God bless.

By Laud Kissi-Mensah