Commuters on the Dawhenya-Kpone Barrier road have expressed frustration over persistent traffic on the road, currently, attributing the menace to hindering business among drivers and traders.

The road, which is the final stretch that joins communities in Ada, Oti Region, and Votal Region and Togo to Ghana’s capital, Accra, suffers traffic congestion due to ongoing dualization on the Tema Community 25-Dawhenya road.

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, later in 2025, confirmed the awarding of a contract to First Sky Construction for the reconstruction of the road, with a timeline of 24 months to complete the expansion.

The constant traffic occurs between Ningo-Prampram junction and Tema Community 25 to Kpone-Barrier close to the Tema Roundabout, sparking concern among commuters.

During an interview with some drivers, who expressed concern over the situation, they disclosed that prolonged hours in traffic reduce their daily round-trip sales, thereby impacting the sales they expect to generate for the owners.

According to the drivers, “Any day at all in the week, the traffic starts as early as 5:00 am through the day to the evening, which inhibits driving at a normal pace. This situation is irrespective of the day, including weekends.”
The drivers added, “5 kilometres stretch that could take a maximum of 5 minutes by vehicle is taking about hours due to the heavy traffic. The traffic is worse if any car breaks down on the road.”

“It is very bad to the extent that drivers can’t make sales to car owners. An in-and-out trip that takes at least one hour will now take three hours,” they stated.

The drivers also criticized the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service regarding their actions toward drivers who resort to using minor paths to circumvent traffic, complaining that police arrest them for offenses while private vehicles exploit these minor routes to evade congestion.

Some market women, who also voiced their frustration with the ongoing menace, emphasized that they are often unfortunate to purchase goods at affordable prices and make timely choices, arriving late at the markets in Accra.

To mitigate the challenges posed by traffic and to maximize business opportunities, the market women in Ada revealed, “We have to start our journey a day early to Accra and stay with family members in the city to acquire goods early, which impacts other commitments we make at home.”

“Sometimes, one must leave Ada as early as 2 or 3 am to avoid delays and arrive at their destination punctually. This practice adversely affects their health, even though one has to act at work,” the passengers lamented.

The commuters expressed enthusiasm for the expansion works on the road and believe that once completed, it will ease movement, hence entreated the contractor to hasten work on the road.