Abandoned tollbooths on Accra-Tema motorway being removed at GH¢1million

The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) has begun a project to partially decommission the tollbooth constructions on the Accra-Tema highway.

The primary booths located on the main motorway’s inner lane will be destroyed as part of the exercise, which is expected to cost GH1 million.

The booths outside of the two major lanes won’t be changed. These extra booths were a component of the extension project.

The tollbooths’ whole foundation of concrete slabs will be demolished.

The abandoned tollbooths have recently been a hotbed for accidents, with one fatal accident occurring last Sunday.

The buildings of the abandoned tollbooths on the highway have drawn criticism from the general population.

A tipper vehicle struck two of the booths in May 2022, leaving two booths damaged.

The lack of visibility of the toll booths, particularly at night, has also been a complaint from drivers.

“We are presently mobilizing resources, equipment and personnel to enable us commence work immediately” he said.

According to Graphic Online’s Della Russel Ocloo, the GHA’s Director of Road Safety and Environment, Joseph Atsu Amedzake, plans have been finalized for the partial removal of the tollbooths to make commuter travel considerably simpler.

Three lanes where the booths are now located have been roped off as part of the exercise.

On Thursday [Sept. 7, 2023] at around 2:50 p.m., Graphic Online visited the Accra end of the tollbooth and noticed that reflective cones had been set up inside the cordoned-off area to alert drivers to the blockage of some of the lanes.

“In the interim, we are also mobilizing to install solar powered streetlights at the Tema and Accra ends of the tollbooths to address the safety concerns while we look for a permanent solution of lighting the entire motorway” he said.

That was a safety measure, according to Mr. Amedzake, to avoid accidents and make sure drivers were aware of the surroundings of the tollbooths.

Along with addressing the safety concerns raised by the gaping potholes, which are a serious hazard for drivers and passengers, Mr. Amedzake also stated that patching work of the depressed sections along the highway that continue to pose a risk to commuters will soon commence.

The section that used to be the favored fastest route for many commuters heading into and out of Accra to Tema and other regions of the country is now significantly more congested due to the potholes.

Mr. Amedzake urged commuters and drivers to use caution when traveling on the portions of the highway that are in question and also to obey the speed limit to prevent accidents.