By-word for Accra Traffic...anyone? How about "Trafficitis"?

Traffic has become so endemic that if we're not careful, it'll become a pandemic -- maybe trafficitis! Add a bit of occasional rainfall and you got yourself even more trafficitis.

Am unsure--as are many commentators--what the cause is. We keep blaming the never-finished roadworks and the numerous cars on the road.

Some of us are so tired of talking about it it's no longer funny...so we take pictures of traffic instead!;-)

One such picture is one I took on the famed Spintex Road--you will see "Oak Plaza Hotel" on the left there -- towards Accra. On that day, it looked like despite the rain, there would not be much traffic. Boy was I wrong! There was a bumper-to-bumper just waiting up ahead to get my finger a-clicking for a blog entry.

But I desisted. I was so bored.

Ghana's Experimentation with Bus Rapid Transit Shapes Up...

Ghana's experimentation with Bus Rapid Transit is a misnomer; it's fully on course, with ads on radio on some stations in full swing. Wikipedia describes it thus:

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling. The goal of these systems is to approach the service quality of rail transit while still enjoying the cost savings and flexibility of bus transit.^[1] The expression BRT is mainly used in North America; in Europe and Australia, it is often called a busway, while elsewhere, it may be called a quality bus.

The definition is all well and good--except that it excludes Africa. For all the chaos associated with Nigeria (celebrating its 50 years), it is one of the first African countries to have implemented BRT. A couple of months ago, Ghanaian policy-makers in the transport system had to go down to Lagos to take notes! Check out the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (http://www.lamata-ng.com/publictransport.htm) to see what I mean.


I took this picture of Mallam junction, en route to the Accra-Cape Coast highway. The above picture shows the beginning of the BRT. I write beginning specifically because there was a signboard on the road where you see the buses indicating that it is only for "dropping". Sadly, I saw private cars (including a diplomatic-licensed car) using that route--most likely to avoid traffic. Once it is in shape, this part of Accra is likely to reduce traffic considerably.

To be sure of Ghana's intentions on BRT, check out the Mass Metro Transit(MMT) website here: http://metromass.com/transit_system.htm.

All I have left to say is: bye-bye traffic!!!

Town Traffic in Accra, but Where's the Solution?

With the great number of cars on the road, is this phenomenon really that inevitable?

What is curious, however, is the number of roadworthy cars that make it on the road and which go on the road in disproportionate fashion to the number of good roads that are built.

Ghana has seen an increase in well-constructed roads all round the country, but the capital seems to suffer the most when these roads are completed. This is because good roads invite more people with cars to use them, especially because they get to their destination in a hassle-free manner.

What's the science for ridding Accra of a considerable degree of traffic other than...more flyovers??

Avoiding Traffic in Accra?

No-one in their right mind would say they love being stuck in traffic, especially when the weather is so sweltering the last thing they want to do is check the temperature!

If you are sufficiently privileged to own a motorbike, traffic-time proves handy, because it's just a matter of not only taking a diversion, but a diversion more easily than the four-wheeled counterparts we like to call cars!

The guy is wearing a helmet--hooray! I am  sure the National Road Safety Commission that has been banging on about helmets for motorbikes...might just give him a hug for being a paragon of road virtue;-)

Ghanaian Roads are about Livelihoods...

...so they must needs remain free (of traffic)!!

I couldn't resist that as this is a picture I used for a post on my ghana blog over here: http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com/2010/02/unbearable-lightness-of-being-in.html, which I wrote about this way last week:

Roads are our lifeblood. It is what we need to move from A to B. It is what helps us get to our destination. So, when we do not move on it quickly, it invariably becomes more than a headache. We cannot avoid traffic--there will always be accidents, people driving crazily and/or carelessly/foolishly--but we can certainly avoid a situation where the most important parts of our morning are eaten up in traffic on the only thoroughfare that will take us into the capital!

The essence of the post was about the National Road Safety Commission hotline calling me to check--as they did again this morning--whether the Motor Transport Unit of the Ghana Police were there!

The police officer is the one standing in reflective yellow to the left of the picture. That place is strategic, because it is very often the genesis of the chaos that takes a life of its own and finds expression in dual-way traffic northbound, when it should be one-way northbound.

That this confusion is compounded by major construction works on the Spintex Road to smoothen the traffic does little to give small headaches this side of the capital every morning!

Ghana's Talking Point:" Road Tolls"

I have come to read and understand that the USA has an atavistic revulsion towards big government. Consequently, anything that comes with a greater role of the State and the government is attacked. Small wonder Obama is suffering the fallout, if you will, of focussing on bringing some sanity to health care reform in a manner that the EU would applaud.

Ghana and the US might be similar only in the sense that our elections are held the same year as the US, but I sincerely hope that Ghana will never go the way of sneezing at taxes and government. The what some might say "dramatic" increases in the road tolls on Ghana's major motorway--the Tema motorway--where the tolls have gone up more than 50% overnight has led to a situation where commuters have used the infamous Spintex road in the morning just to avoid paying the taxes.

Or so private radio station CITI97.3fm was averring yesterday morning in interviews. I seriously would not put it past my fellow denizens, though!

East Legon--The Tunnel of No Return?

Not quite.

East Legon has this tunnel, which was never supposed to be used by cars--but by animals--but now has become a veritable tunnel to allow cars and dodgy trucks pass through north-bound and south-bound to the dreaded-Spintex Road.

Am I making any sense?

Neither does the inexplicable traffic that occasionally develops without reason. Had it not been for the guys at the mouth of the tunnel (check the figure in blue, wearing yellow on his head on the left) , the traffic would have been more than bottle-necks!

And, yeah: they're ALL guys. Tunnel-watchers haven't gotten gender-sensitive yet;-)

Terrible Traffic on Spintex Road 17 Aug, 2009

Both northbound and southbound directions revealed tremendous traffic yesterday evening due to an accident on the Tetteh-Quarshie interchange. Those among us who are foolishly intrepid decided to walk instead of staying in a vehicle that was charging you for essentially being in traffic! This picture attests to that "foolishness". My camera-phone was a worthy target for theft but, hey, anything for a photo-op!

You can view a video clip of how bad it was here.

Ghanaian Pedestrians: Red, Stop,...Go!

I had to go to work a little later than usual yesterday as I had duties to the nation to fulfil. The magnitude of the work at hand did not prevent me from taking the time to catch a photo of this pedestrian "meter", located at the Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange.

Before you ask, it does work;-) I do need an answer, though--what do you call what I called the pedestrian "meter"?

Typical Scene of Accra Morning Traffic

I rarely pass the Tetteh Quarshie interchange to get to work--thankfully! When I do, it's because I need to get to town for a work-related activity, or run an errand.

Judging by this scene, I am glad I do not have to pass here!

This is the Kind of Accra Traffic I Abhor!

It's a good job I walk a lot.

Preoccupation becomes me, just in case you're unable to contrast my usually long-winded posts with these off-late very terse ones.

I'll be better next week.

Toodle-pip.

Make the weekend relaxing and constructive if you can!

Incidentally, this is taken from my favourite haunts--Accra Mall

Policeman Stops Tro-Tro...on Spintex Road

Looks like someone's going to have a bad day. I'm thinking it's the tro-tro driver whom I presume is in the green t-shirt.

Scenes like these are common Ghanaian currency, especially in the mornings when Ghanaians are going to work. Tro-tro drivers often capitalise on the chaos of traffic to do all sort of unconventional things, such as driving on shoulders and whatnot. Occasionally, a hawk-eyed police officer will put paid to such antics! The other side of the coin is that the police officer will necessarily stop a tro-tro driver, knowing he can extort money from him!

You pick your choice;-)

Spintex Road Traffic at Night

It's already bad experiencing Spintex road traffic, which I can only describe as "legendary", but it's especially worse this time of the year, when the whole world is a whisker away from festivities of Christmas...

Accra by Night: Night Traffic...with a Twist!

The combination of speed, and headlamps of oncoming cars produced these fancy and funky lights by this white Nissan Terrano travelling southwards.

Too Much Accra Traffic? Here's What You Can Do...

Let's use the bicycle!

I was, as you might imagine, stuck in some lunch-time traffic near so-called 37 military hospital, when I saw this elderly man cruise past us, and proceed casually on his way--by way of his trusted bike! I so felt like conjuring my bike from the sky to do the same thing!;-))

Oh, this Accra Traffic!

Do you see the scaleof the traffic that can be visited upon the capital of Accra? Especially at rush-hour? You m ay see from the picture that there's a white van--that's a tro-tro, understandably trying to get in file of the traffic (after having left a shoulder where it dropped off (and took some) passengers).

Meanwhile, despite the green light from the traffic lights, and a bit of movement for vehicles, the density of traffic is nothing to write home about!

Views from a Tro-Tro: Traffic on the Tetteh-Quarshie Interchange

If you're a regular visitor to this blog, then you'll know that Tetteh-Quarshie interchange is a regular feature in this blog. Primarily because that is where I pass to go to and from home often.

This particular entry is a different take: yesterday I came back from town, heading for the office at East Legon, around 5.10pm. Bad timing, because that is categorical rush-hour time. I was in a tro-tro this time, and decided to take a shot from my camera-phone. I got a few quizzed faces, but it was worth it!

Waiting to Board a (Public Transport) Bus

This is a familiar scene all over Accra--especially rush-hour, when many Ghanaians are hoping to get home as quickly as possible.

This is one of the many different types of transport we have available for Ghanaians to commute, albeit more popular--not just for the very low cost of around 10 Ghana pesewas, or circa $0.13, but because it's also positively more comfortable than the usual tro-tros!

The tyres are another rather typical scene; they help remind motorists that there are vulcanizers in the 'hood who can fix tyres for you!;-)

Itinerant Vendor in Accra

Brace yourself for anytime you have to come to Accra, for these are some of the vendors--or hawkers--you will meet in the streets of the capital.

This particular one in the red polo is selling lozenges, including Mentos.

Meanwhile, a traffic warden directs traffic.

Spintex Road=Byword for Traffic

By now, I am sure any regular visitor might feel compelled to give me a prize for the number of times I have referred to the Spintex Road on this photo blog.

Suffice-to-say, this road, as I have written elsewhere,

"
The Spintex Road in Accra is one of the fastest-growing, traffic-inducing roads just outside the Accra Metropolis. It leads to Teshie-Nungua, and onto Tema."

This is not too far from the Accra Mall, anad at the time that I took this (circa 6.15pm), it was already getting dark, and the single-file of traffic was no longer legendary, but...normal.

It might interest you to know that the Spintex Road has a very rudimentary website: http://www.spintexroad.com, promting speculation in some quarters that it's going to be a rather gargantuan economic hotspot of the capital.