A major traffic gridlock along the Osino–Nkawkaw stretch of the Accra–Kumasi Highway on Friday (1 May) has raised serious concerns about road safety management and emergency response, after commuters were stranded for more than 15 hours without visible police intervention.
The congestion reportedly began around 8:00 a.m. and persisted until approximately 11:00 p.m., leaving hundreds of motorists and passengers stuck along the busy corridor, a key route linking southern and northern Ghana.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that no officers from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service were present for most of the day to manage the situation or enforce traffic regulations. As conditions worsened, some stranded travelers took it upon themselves to direct traffic between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. in an attempt to ease the gridlock.
Several factors were cited as contributing to the chaos. Drivers reportedly created multiple unauthorized lanes, particularly from the Accra-bound side, which blocked oncoming traffic and worsened the standstill. Indiscriminate parking by trucks and other long vehicles further reduced available road space, while some broken-down vehicles were allegedly abandoned in the middle of the road, compounding the obstruction.
Commuters described the situation as not only frustrating but also a significant safety and security risk, as the prolonged standstill left travelers vulnerable and delayed the movement of goods and services along the critical highway.
