Hot Source…On abandoned Ofankor-Nsawam road
The Ofankor-Nsawam road, especially the Amasaman-Medie section, was blocked for more than 15 hours, from Thursday evening, until late Friday, leaving thousands of commuters, long-distance travellers and heavy-duty trucks stranded in a massive road congestion.
Vehicles travelling between Accra and the Northern Region, as well as neighbouring Sahelian countries, were stuck in the standstill, unable to move for the entire period. Many local passengers heading towards the Medie stretch were forced to walk from the Satellite area or turn to commercial motorbikes (Okada) to reach their destinations.
The Ofankor–Nsawam section of the N6 is a major arterial road serving communities in the Ga West Municipal Assembly, including Pokuase, Amasaman, Medie and Sarpeiman. It is also a vital international trade link between Ghana and its landlocked neighbours, such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, serving as a key route for transit cargo from Ghana’s ports.
The disruption occurred just hours after commercial transport operators issued a one-week ultimatum to the Ministry of Roads and Highways to repair the deteriorating Pokuase–Nsawam road or face a mass protest that could ground vehicles.
In a joint statement signed by leaders of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of the TUC, the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) and other commercial driver groups, the operators described the stretch as “unmotorable” and “extremely dangerous” to motorists, commuters and residents.
The project, awarded to Maripoma Enterprise Limited, a local construction firm, is funded by the Government of Ghana at GH¢341.48 million, though other reports have quoted a figure of US$346.5 million.
Work on the 33.4-kilometre international road linking Ofankor to Nsawam, part of the Accra–Kumasi road (National Route 6), has stalled after Maripoma Enterprise Limited reportedly moved its equipment from the site at Amasaman.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 14, 2025, the operators noted that the poor condition of the road had rendered it nearly impassable, resulting in increased operational costs due to frequent vehicle maintenance, spare parts replacement, and a reduced vehicle lifespan.
Those unable to find alternative transport, particularly long-distance travellers and drivers, were forced to spend the night on the road after two articulated trucks overturned and blocked the road at Satellite.
The incident created a traffic backlog stretching to Amasaman on both sides. From about 5 p.m. on Thursday until late Friday, no vehicular movement was possible. It was only at 10 a.m. on Friday that the road was finally cleared, allowing traffic to flow, though congestion persisted as vehicles moved at a snail’s pace due to the poor state of the road.
Large potholes, some of which have turned into gullies, and pools of stagnant water have made travel along the stretch extremely difficult and dangerous.
Some commercial minibuses (trotros) and smaller vehicles that had been alerted to the blockade earlier diverted through adjoining communities before rejoining the main road to either enter or exit Accra.
Several frustrated drivers who spoke to the Ghanaian Times and other media houses appealed to the government to release funds for the contractor to resume work.
Philip Mensah, an articulated truck driver transporting cement, lamented: “I have never slept on this section of the road before, but here I am. I have to deliver this consignment before the end of the day, and look, I am stuck in the middle of the road.”
Michael Ansah, a fuel tanker driver, expressed concern for his safety: “I am worried because the product I am carrying is flammable and can catch fire easily.”
Another driver, Evans Appiah, who was transporting perishable goods, feared his consignment would go to waste: “The products need refrigeration, and any delay will spoil them. The government must pay the contractor so work can continue.”
Taxi driver Emmanuel Ofori also recounted how a routine trip turned into a nightmare: “I was just dropping a customer at Medie, only to pass the night on the road.”
The project, which commenced in July 2022 and was initially expected to be completed in 2024, was granted an extension to May 2025. However, the contractor has since abandoned the site.
When completed, the road is expected to ease traffic congestion on the Accra–Nsawam route, boost socio-economic activities along the corridor, and facilitate trade between Ghana and its Sahelian neighbours, including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
In the meantime, commuters and drivers continue to endure severe delays and hazardous driving conditions, with Thursday’s incident serving as yet another reminder of the urgent need to complete the project.
The transport unions stressed that the road’s poor state has not only increased travel time but also imposed heavy operational costs on drivers, ultimately reducing the lifespan of their vehicles.
According to the unions, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, had earlier assured them that the road would be put in satisfactory condition within six weeks, but the deadline had long passed without any improvement. They are therefore demanding urgent intervention, warning that failure to act would result in a protest “until our concerns are addressed.”
The unions further called on all motorists, commuters, and residents affected by the situation to join the planned protest as a civic duty to compel the authorities to take action.
The joint statement was signed by: Emmanuel Nii Ankrah, National Vice and Greater Accra Regional Chairman of GPRTU of TUC; Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim Moro, National PRO of GRTCC; Alhaji Tanko, National Chairman of GPRTU of TUC; Samuel Amoah, National Deputy PRO of the Concern Drivers Association of Ghana; Paa Willie, National Chairman of the Concern Drivers Association of Ghana; David Agboado, National PRO of the True Drivers Union; Yaw Barima, National PRO of the Commercial Transport Operators; and Asonaba Nana Owiredu.
The signatories reiterated “The present deplorable state of the road has made it unmotorable and poses extreme dangers to motorists, commuters and residents along the Pokuase–Nsawam stretch.
“We are therefore calling on the Hon. Minister of Roads and Highways to take immediate action to fix the Pokuase–Nsawam road to alleviate the plight of motorists, commuters and residents on the corridor.
“If no meaningful action is taken within one week, the GPRTU of TUC, GRTCC and other commercial transport operators will park our vehicles and embark on a protest against the Government until our concerns are addressed.”
The project was awarded by the Akufo-Addo administration to Maripoma Enterprise Limited, which is also handling the 17-km dualization of a section of the Tema–Aflao road and the Tema Roundabout–Akosombo project.
Roads Minister Kwame Governs Agbodza has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress of work, acknowledging financial constraints but urging contractors to expedite delivery given the strategic importance of the corridor.
Despite Ghana’s current economic challenges, the Minister has reiterated the government’s commitment to completing all ongoing road projects, including the Ofankor–Nsawam stretch.
Mahama Abdulai, Project Manager for the Ofankor–Nsawam project, has attributed the slowdown in work to litigation, compensation issues and financial constraints, and has appealed to the Minister for urgent intervention.
Indeed, in March of this year, the Minister of Roads and Highways instructed the contractor working on the Ofankor-Nsawam road project to expedite work and provide relief to motorists.
Work on the 33.4km road commenced in 2022 and was expected to be completed by July 2024; however, work slowed down in November 2024, with 75% of the work completed.
Speaking to journalists during an inspection tour, Mr Agbodza expressed his unhappiness about the progress of work. While acknowledging the financial constraints faced by contractors working on various government road projects, the Minister urged the contractors to expedite work on the projects.
“I acknowledge that the majority of road contractors are having a crisis of not being paid because the volume of work that had been awarded without any sustainable source of funding is the issue. That is the bottom line,” the Minister said.
He added that: “I agree every road is necessary, every single road that is under contract is necessary, but you know the corridor you are working on is a very critical one. “You have to actually increase your activity on this corridor in good faith because surely we owe, and you will be paid.”
The post Travellers, Trucks left stranded in 15-hour traffic jam appeared first on The Herald ghana.
