Commuters who ply the Amasaman-Pokuase road in the Greater Accra Region were, on Monday morning, left agitated as they were forced to spend several hours in heavy traffic.

Many of the frustrated passengers were travelling to parts of the capital, Accra, but had to endure the gridlock as a result of a road diversion due to ongoing construction works on the stretch.

One of those stranded was Dr. Harry Agbanu, a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana and President of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) chapter at the school.

“I left home at 5:00 am from Amasaman, and I am yet to get to Pokuase. The traffic is so terrible. Between Amasaman and Pokuase, I have been here for over two and a half hours. The traffic is not moving. The motorists are frustrated, and now they are using the incoming lanes,” he said.

Other motorists who called into the Citi Breakfast Show, including Dadi FM’s Morning Show host, Abena Opokua, also corroborated Mr Agbanu’s report on the traffic situation.

“Today’s traffic is hectic. I left home at 4:45 am, and it’s unfortunate that I am stuck in traffic. Under normal circumstances, there shouldn’t be any traffic here. This is terrible and the road is also bad and riddled with potholes”, she told host, Bernard Avle.

They also cite the activities of street hawkers on the road, deep potholes on the stretch and the unmotorable state of an alternative route through Oduman, as the cause of the traffic jam.

Diversion
But Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ga West Municipal Assembly, Clement Wilkinson, attributed the development to a road diversion that has been created to allow for the asphalting works on the Pokuase-Amasaman Interchange to be done.

“It’s because of a diversion. They are doing the asphalting on the ground of the Pokuase interchange. So there is a diversion which everyone must obey other than that the contractors can’t work, that is what is causing the traffic congestion. It is ongoing construction and there are signposts there and the drivers are aware”, he explained.

Relocation
Meanwhile, the MCE has also assured the hawkers will be relocated within two weeks while a contractor gets ready to start work on the Oduman road.

“We are moving the hawkers by the roadside to prepare a place for them on the other side of the road. I am sure by two weeks time, we would have finished that. For, Oduman because of the bad nature of the road, I spoke with the contractor, and she is getting ready to move to that road. I have also spoken to the Director of Highways, and he said he is going to talk with the engineers to come and fix the potholes”, he promised.