The government has announced a major drainage construction project in the Kaneshie area of Accra, with sections of the Dr Busia Highway set to be closed or affected by traffic diversions from September 7, 2026.
The works are being undertaken under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project as part of efforts to improve drainage capacity and reduce the recurring flooding that affects parts of the capital.
According to authorities, the project will involve the construction of a 1.5-kilometre double-cell underground rectangular stormwater drain stretching from Pamprom Junction to First Light Junction within the Kaneshie enclave.
The new drainage structure will be approximately 10 metres wide and will replace the existing system of two pipes, each measuring about 1.2 metres in diameter. The new facility is expected to significantly increase the capacity of the drainage network serving the area.
Roads and routes affected
The first phase of the traffic management plan will begin on September 7, when the westbound carriageway of the Dr Busia Highway from Pamprom Junction will be closed to facilitate construction.
The closure will affect motorists travelling from areas including Korle Bu, Graphic Road, Obetsebi Lamptey Circle and Kwame Nkrumah Circle towards Pamprom Junction and First Light Junction.
Motorists using the affected routes will be directed through alternative roads, including Awudome Cemetery Road, New Times Road, Awudome Roundabout, Oblogo and Mataheko before reconnecting at First Light Junction. Another alternative will be the Obetsebi Interchange–Oblogo Traffic Light–Mataheko corridor.
The first phase of the closure is expected to continue until the end of November 2026, with Pamprom Junction expected to reopen during the first week of December.
However, motorists should expect further disruption even after the initial phase. The westbound section between Kaneshie Station and First Light Junction is expected to remain closed until August 2027 to allow the drainage works to continue.
A subsequent phase is expected to affect the road between First Light Junction and the Cocoa Clinic Roundabout from September to the end of October 2027. This stage will affect motorists travelling from areas including Russia Community, Flamingo Traffic Light, Kasoa and Odorkor.
Authorities urge motorists to plan ahead
The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, together with relevant metropolitan and municipal assemblies, will assist with traffic management during the construction period.
Directional and advance-warning signs are also expected to be installed along the affected routes to help motorists navigate the diversions.
Authorities have appealed to residents, commuters, transport operators, traders and businesses within the affected areas to plan their movements ahead of the closures and cooperate with the traffic management arrangements.
The government has acknowledged that the project will cause inconvenience to road users, but officials say the drainage upgrade is necessary to address longstanding flooding challenges in Kaneshie and surrounding communities.
The GARID Project forms part of broader government efforts to improve flood management infrastructure in the Greater Accra Region, particularly in areas vulnerable to heavy rainfall and inadequate drainage capacity.
With construction expected to continue in phases into 2027, motorists who regularly use the Kaneshie corridor are being encouraged to take note of the planned closures and use designated alternative routes where necessary.
Source: Thepressradio.com
