Reconstruction works on the Tema Motorway expansion project in Accra are progressing steadily, with about 35 per cent of the work completed, despite a temporary slowdown caused by funding challenges.

The motorway is being reconstructed into a modern facility comprising three distinct carriageways.

The existing dual carriageway will be retained and completed with a concrete surface, while new three-lane urban highways on either side will be finished in asphalt to serve local traffic and ease pressure on the expressway.

An excavating works on going on the motorway extension

Hip of debries on the motorway

A section of the road being watered to suppress dust

The project also includes the reconstruction of the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange; the construction of new interchanges at Teshie Link, Community 18 and Lashibi; and the integration of the Flower Pot, Ashaiman and Tema interchanges. Additional extensions will link Tetteh Quarshie to Apenkwa and Tesano to Neoplan.

At the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, widening works to three lanes on each side are underway, with substructure works completed and beam fabrication currently in progress.

In addition, 10 pedestrian footbridges are being constructed at various locations along the corridor in order to enhance safety for road users and the surrounding communities.

Valued at more than $350 million, the project is being undertaken under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement by a wholly Ghanaian-owned firm, Messrs Maripoma Limited.

It is designed to expand road capacity, improve safety, and strengthen connectivity between Accra, the Tema Port, and the wider national and regional road network, while supporting trade, logistics, and economic growth.

The old Accra-Tema Motorway

Vehicular traffic and commuters battling for space at a session on the motorway

Vehicular traffic on the motorway

The project, scheduled for completion within 36 months, involves the construction of a 10-lane divided highway, with full access-controlled express lanes dedicated to through traffic and partially access-controlled urban highways for local community traffic.

In an exclusive interview with The Ghanaian Times, the Chief Resident Engineer, Mr Kwabena Bempong, explained that the works form part of the Accra–Tema Motorway and Extensions Project, which spans 27.7 kilometres and is divided into three sections.

He said the first section currently under construction runs from Tema to Tetteh Quarshie, covering 19.5 kilometres.

Mr Bempong described extensive earthworks as the most technically demanding aspect of the project, noting that unsuitable soil materials had been excavated and replaced to ensure the long-term durability of the road.

He added that traffic would eventually be diverted onto the completed urban highways to allow construction of the main concrete expressway, a move expected to improve traffic management as work progresses.

While these explanations have reassured many road users, commuters and residents along the corridor say the construction phase has significantly affected daily travel and living conditions.

A commuter, Sandra Asantewa Saim, noted that navigating the motorway had become challenging due to frequent diversions and heavy vehicular traffic, particularly during peak hours.

A trotro driver, Thomas Aikens, who plies the Accra–Tema route, stated that “what used to be a smooth trip now depends on the time of day,” adding that passengers often complain about delays and rising fuel costs.

A resident, Regina Aggrey, said dust from construction activities, noise from heavy machinery, and restricted access to homes and businesses had become part of daily life, with some roadside traders recording reduced patronage.

Despite these temporary inconveniences, many road users remain optimistic about the project’s long-term benefits.

A haulage driver, Mr Kwame Atta Mensah, who transports goods between the Tema Port and Accra, indicated that the expansion was critical to supporting trade and logistics.

“This road is the main gateway to the port. The traffic is frustrating now, but when the expansion is completed, it will reduce congestion, improve safety, and help us move goods faster,” he outlined.

Addressing public concerns, Mr Bempong said measures were being implemented to minimise inconvenience, including regular watering of dusty sections, asphalting of critical areas, and blocking unauthorised access to incomplete roads.

He cautioned motorists against illegal U-turns and paying money to individuals posing as road workers, and urged them to observe road signs and reduce speed, stressing that the motorway remains an active construction zone.

Background

The Tema Motorway, Ghana’s only motorway linking Accra to the port city of Tema, has for decades served as a vital economic and commuter corridor. Opened in November 1965 under President Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the 19-kilometre highway was designed for a much smaller population and far fewer vehicles, primarily to facilitate smooth movement between the capital and Tema’s industrial enclave.

Over the years, rapid population growth in the Greater Accra Region, coupled with a sharp rise in vehicle ownership, has severely overstretched the motorway. Urban sprawl along areas such as Spintex, Lashibi, Ashaiman and Community 18 has transformed the road from a limited-access highway into a heavily used urban artery, carrying commuters, heavy trucks and local traffic far beyond its original design capacity.

As traffic volumes increased, congestion, road deterioration and safety concerns became more pronounced. The original four-lane configuration has proven inadequate, while the continuous passage of heavy-duty vehicles has accelerated wear on the road surface. Poor lighting, informal access points and encroachment on the motorway’s right-of-way have further compounded the challenges.

Successive governments have acknowledged the urgent need to expand the motorway into a modern multi-lane urban highway, with proposals dating back more than a decade. However, these plans have suffered repeated delays, largely due to funding constraints. A major Public-Private Partnership arrangement collapsed in 2020, while subsequent efforts have relied on phased-financing rather than full upfront funding.

With Ghana’s public finances under pressure and competing demands on limited infrastructure funds, the expansion of the Tema Motorway has progressed slower than expected. The result is a critical national road struggling to meet present-day demands, underscoring the broader challenge of aligning infrastructure development with rapid urban growth and rising number of vehicles.