Motorists who ply the Accra-Tema Beach Road have expressed concern over the prolonged delay in completing the project, which has now stalled for over three years.
They said the bad nature of portions on the road made driving difficult, resulting in loss of productive hours and destruction to their vehicle parts.
As a commercial route leading to Tema Harbour and other business centres, the road plays a crucial role in facilitating revenue generation for the country.
However, the current condition of the damaged sections leaves much to be desired, as motorists often have to navigate around potholes while vying for space with heavy-duty trucks on the road, making travel difficult and unsafe.
They acknowledged that although major portions of the project had been completed, there was still much to be done to make the entire stretch more accessible and comfortable to motorists.
Because the interchanges at the Junction Mall intersection remain incomplete, motorists are forced to divert to and from the harbour and surrounding communities via the untarred road near the Krowor Municipal Assembly office causing significant inconvenience to drivers, pedestrians, and vendors along the route.
Unfortunately, some parts of the asphalted road have also begun developing cracks and potholes.
Affected areas
“Most affected portions include the stretch from the Krowor Assembly Office, through Royal Ravico, along the bridge to the “Kantamanto” area, where I always pray that a truck does not slip and fall on my car,” a driver, Emmanuel Armah, said.
Water-tolerant vegetation growing in the stagnant water under the abandoned flyover
The Teshie Mobil Junction area is another major concern for motorists, who must contend not only with heavy trucks but also with unyielding pedestrians. Driving from Lascala to the junction is even more challenging, as motorists often find themselves in long queues, hoping that no vehicle breaks down ahead of them.
Residents near the Nungua Interchange project have expressed frustration because construction has come to a standstill.
Portions of the stretch from First Junction to Junction Mall have been transformed into makeshift structures, with both residents and vendors occupying the area to sell their goods.
Some have even turned parts of the site into block factories, with heaps of sand and gravel lining the roads.
A visit by the Daily Graphic on August 18 revealed vehicles parked haphazardly amid accumulated piles of garbage.
Stagnant water, resulting from heavy downpours and the activities of food vendors, has created swamps, contributing to an unsightly environment overrun by weeds.
Some residents told the Daily Graphic that they had not seen any engineers on-site since January, and that work had completely stalled.
The situation is no different for the Tema-bound section of the bridge, which was expected to be completed in December 2022 but has experienced several postponements.
The bridge is one of three being constructed under Phase One of the Accra-Tema Beach Road Expansion Project.
Disappointment
At Nungua, Solomon Sowatei, a vendor, expressed disappointment over the stalled project, stating that they had lost hope in the completion of the interchange.
“We haven't seen any work done in months,” he said, adding that it was disheartening to watch the community turn into a dumping ground.
A commercial bus driver who travels the route from Tema to Accra said the situation disrupted traffic flow, causing significant congestion—especially during rainy conditions.
He called for urgent action from the government to address the issue and renew work on the crucial interchange, part of a three-tier project comprising 31 kilometres of major roadworks divided into two lots.
The first lot covers a 14-kilometre stretch from Osu to Boade Junction, while the second spans 17 kilometres from Boade Junction to Tema Community Three.
Another driver, who gave his name as Seth, said the mud caused by the rain affected patronage of their services, adding that initially, more people visited the mall, but the current situation had led to a decline.
“The sales we make these days are insignificant compared to when this project had not yet commenced.
“Since this project began, we have seen several postponements, and yet they have not been able to complete it for us.
We are appealing to the government to finish this project for us, and we will be grateful,” he said.
