Tema–Dawhenya Road Project Crawls As Commuters Suffer

The ongoing dualisation of the Tema Community 25–Dawhenya road, a project expected to significantly ease traffic congestion along the busy corridor, is progressing at a frustratingly slow pace, leaving commuters and motorists exasperated.

Road users who depend on the stretch daily complain that the sluggish pace of work by the contractor, First Sky Construction, has resulted in unbearable traffic congestion, particularly during peak hours.

Commuters and residents report spending several hours on the road, arriving late to work, school, and home, often exhausted and unproductive.

Since December, the situation has worsened dramatically, with some motorists reportedly spending as long as four hours travelling from the Tema Free Zones traffic light to Dawhenya—a journey that ordinarily takes between five and ten minutes.

First Sky Construction, according to information available to THE ARCHIVES, has been awarded Tranche Two of the project and given a 24-month completion timeline. However, the visible slow pace of work has raised doubts among road users and residents about whether the contractor can complete the project on schedule.

Motorists describe traffic conditions on the stretch as unbearable, with vehicles remaining stationary for extended periods. Commercial drivers complain that the delays have significantly increased fuel consumption and operational costs, which are likely to translate into higher transport fares for commuters.

Mr. Richard Agbey, a commercial driver who plies the Aflao–Accra route, described each trip as a life-draining experience. He believes the contractor should, at the very least, implement effective traffic management measures to ease congestion while construction continues.

While acknowledging the importance of road expansion, road users insist that prolonged delays without noticeable progress are taking a heavy toll on daily life and economic productivity.

Police Alleged Extortion

Compounding commuters’ frustration, motorists allege that some police officers have taken advantage of the situation to extort money from drivers who attempt to use the shoulders of the road to bypass traffic.

According to commuters, these officers often mount ambushes—particularly at night and during rush hours—arresting motorists and worsening congestion instead of managing traffic.

Workers and students appear to be among the worst affected. Several commuters report persistent lateness to work, while students arrive at school exhausted after enduring long hours in traffic.

Although the exact cause of the slow progress remains unclear, residents who spoke to this paper say there is little visible activity on the site, especially when compared to other road projects that appear to be advancing at a faster pace.

Appeal for Action

Residents are therefore calling on First Sky Construction and the relevant authorities to accelerate work on the project. The Tema–Dawhenya road serves as a vital route linking several communities, and residents hope that urgent intervention will restore smooth movement and boost commercial activity along the corridor.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has attributed earlier delays in the project to disruptions caused by Ghana’s debt restructuring programme.

Speaking on Channel One TV on Monday, November 24, the Minister explained that the first phase of the project was financed through a commercial loan approved by Parliament, which was later affected by the country’s debt restructuring process.

“That project was awarded through a commercial loan approved by Parliament. Unfortunately, it fell victim to the debt restructuring involving a British company that was supposed to execute Tranche One,” he said.

As a result, the government restructured the project and separated the second phase.

“They were supposed to do Tranche Two if Tranche One went well, but because that stalled, we asked that Tranche Two be carried as a brand-new Big Push project, which First Sky is currently working on,” the Minister explained.

He clarified that Tranche One involves the construction of service roads and interchanges, while Tranche Two focuses on widening the main carriageway from Community 25 to Central University.

“Tranche Two is the main carriageway. Tranche One is supposed to be the service roads by the side and the interchanges,” he added.

The Minister reaffirmed that First Sky Construction has been awarded the Tranche Two contract and granted a 24-month period to complete the expansion.