Ghana's 90-Day Plan Could End Accra Traffic Nightmare

Imagine cutting your two-hour commute in half without building a single overpass or highway. That's exactly what Ghana's Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority says it can do for Accra in just 90 days.

Benedict Arkhurst, the agency's Head of Plan Preparation, revealed on Joy FM that the solution to the capital's traffic nightmare is gathering dust in government offices. Ghana already spent €2 million (about $35 million) on a complete transport framework designed by international experts. The problem? Nobody rolled it out.

"The plans are already there," Arkhurst explained. "It is a matter of enforcement to ensure that we roll them out within two or three months."

His proposal centers on a phased Arterial Bus System that would dedicate existing road lanes exclusively to high-capacity buses during rush hour. Instead of attempting a citywide overhaul, the authority wants to start with a pilot on the most congested routes like Madina-Adenta, Kasoa-Mallam, and the Tema Motorway.

The three-month timeline breaks down simply. Month one: identify two key corridors and engage stakeholders. Month two: launch dedicated bus lanes with strict enforcement. Month three: review results and plan expansion to the remaining routes.

The key ingredient isn't concrete or construction crews. It's enforcement. Arkhurst argues that if authorities simply enforced lane discipline and cleared unauthorized trading stalls that spill onto roads, traffic would improve almost immediately.

Why This Inspires

The economic case is staggering. Ghana loses nearly $2 billion every year to traffic-related productivity losses, wasted fuel, and health problems from pollution and stress. That's a thousand times more than the cost of the unused blueprint.

What makes this story genuinely hopeful is its simplicity. Too often, infrastructure problems feel insurmountable without massive budgets and decade-long construction projects. Arkhurst's proposal proves that sometimes the best solutions aren't about building more but using what we already have smarter.

The roads exist. The buses exist. The plan exists. All that's missing is the political will to enforce it.

"We can even try with one," Arkhurst suggested. "Once we see positive signs, we can now go ahead and do the rest." That practical, step-by-step approach turns an overwhelming problem into a manageable pilot that could transform daily life for millions.

If Ghana follows through, commuters in Accra could be spending more time with their families and less time sitting in exhaust fumes before spring arrives.