Ghana Road Network Additional Information
Road Construction / Maintenance

The responsibility for the administration, development and maintenance of trunk roads and related
facilities in the country is charged to Ghana Highway Authority

The Authority has a Managing Director, designated as Chief Executive.

There are three (3) Deputy Chief Executives: the Deputy Chief Executive (Administration); the Deputy
Chief Executive (Development); and the Deputy Chief Executive (Maintenance)

There authority has ten Regional Offices headed by Regional Highway Directors.

The GHA also has twenty-eight (28) Area offices nation-wide.
The Authority has three main sources of funding for its operations. These are:
(1) The Consolidated Fund: Government of Ghana (GOG); from which Staff Remuneration is paid through the
Controller & Accountant General's Department
(2) The Road Fund; and
(3) Loans, Credits, and Grants from Bilateral and Multi-lateral Donor Agencies such as:

IDA – International Development Association (World Bank)

AFDB – African Development Bank

OECF – Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund of Japan

EU – European Union

KFW – Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (Bank for Reconstruction)

ECGD – Export Credit Guarantee Department of U.K.

JICA – Japan International Co-operation Agency

BADEA – Arab Bank for Development in Africa

OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

DANIDA – Danish Government

Saudi Fund
xle Load Limits

Road Toll Rates
Type
Rate in GHC
Motorcycles
0.10
Saloon Vehicles
0.50
Pick up and 4X4
1.00
Light Buses
1.50
Heavy Buses
1.50
Two axle trucks
2.00
3- 4 Axle trucks
2.00
5 Axle trucks
2.50
Transport Corridors

The national road network (the highest in the functional classes of Roads in the country) measuring
4,426km forms the main road transport corridors in the country

These corridors serve as the means by which passengers and freight are conveyed from the capital city to
regional centres and to the ports

These road corridors are in appreciable condition. The Government of Ghana, however, has plans under
the Transport Sector Development programme, a medium programme for 2008-2012, to development key
sections of the national road network to facilitate trade and regional integration.
International Corridors Leading to the Country

The major corridors leading into the countries via road, comes from the three bordering countries Cote
d’Ivorie, Togo and Burkina Faso.

From Cote d’Ivorie the main border crossing by road is at Elubo, which is close to the coast. While there
are a few other places were it is possible to cross, no major roads leading to and from these border
crossings to Cote d’Ivorie and the most accessible and useful corridor would be to cross at Elubo. The road
from Accra to Elubo is good and tarred all the way to Axim. After that there are a few stretches with dirt
road and construction work is on-going. The road distance is about 380 km and will take around seven to
eight hours

The main border crossing to Togo is at the coastal town of Aflao. The road from Accra to Aflao is very
good for the first 140 km untill you reach the town of Akachi, the main problem is the traffic congestion
around Tema. After Akachi major road construction is taken place and from here all the way to Aflao it is
dirt road

Once the border is crossed from the Ghanaian side there will only be a few minutes drive to the Togolese
capital Lome. At the time of writing major construction work was on-going at both side of the border
crossing. The work is expected to be finalized by July 2010 and from the briefing given by the customs
authority the new facilities would include clearly defined lanes, x-ray machines, examination pitts and
good access to water and electricity. Priority would be given to humanitarian cargo in case of an
emergency. The border crossing is open 7 days a week from 6 am to 10 pm

The main crossing point to Burkina Faso is through Paga which is located 858 km from Accra. It is Tarmac
road and being under continuous major repairs for the last three years. Cuurently the area
between Techiman to Kintampo (50 – 60 km) is completely removed and a new layer is being
constructed. The road is very congested Road is with four bridges over the Black and White Volta

Customs offices in both Paga and Dakola (in Burkina Faso) 160 km South of Ouagadougou. Both points
are equipped with computers, but there are no warehousing facilities

It was difficult to obtain a clear estimation of the average time necessary for a truck to cross the border.
Nevertheless, it seems that clearance process for a truck should not take more than half a day if all
necessary documents are in due form. Humanitarian cargo normallly given priority.
Main Corridors within the Country (leading to main towns / hubs)

The main road corridors within the country leading to main towns are as follows:
o Accra-Kumasi-Techiman-Tamale-Paga (Central road Corridor)
o Aflao-Sogakope-Accra-Cape Coast-Takoradi-Elubo ( Coastal Corridor)
o Tema-Asikuma-Hohoe-Nkwanta-Oti Damanko-Yendi-Kulungugu (Eastern Corridor)
o Takoradi-Tarkwa-Bogoso-Ayamfuri-Asawinso-Gaoso-Sunyani-Bamboi-Sawla-Wa-Hamile
(Western corridor)

The public road network is state owned and is administered by the Ministry of Roads and
Transport

The paved roads often lack maintenance and the overloaded trucks operating without effective
control mainly cause deterioration

The implementation of the axle load limit by Ministry of Roads and Transport in 2009 will have a
positive effect on the road conditions.
Road Corridor Assessment
Road from Accra to Tema
General Information
Total distance
30 km
Total travel time
45 minutes
Road classification
n/a
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
n/a
Comments: Good concrete road. The major constraint on the road is the traffic that can be quite dense.
Road Characteristics
Jan – Mar
Apr – Jun
Jul – Sep
Oct - Dec
Total route time 4x4 (hours)
1
1
1
1
Car
Y
Y
Y
Y
4x4
Y
Y
Y
Y
Truck (rigid)
Y
Y
Y
Y
Trailer
Y
Y
Y
Y
Turn-around time for truck and trailers (hours)
4
4
4
4
Obstacles and bridges: Bridge
Comments: Five small bridges in good condition are on the way.
Road from Accra to Takoradi
General Information
Total distance
Accra – Cape Coast: 145 Km
Takoradi – Cape Coast: 84 Km
Total travel time
Accra – Cape Coast: 3.5 hours
Takoradi – Cape Coast: 1 hour
Road classification
n/a
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
n/a
Accra – Cape Coast:
Good concrete road over the first 30 km. A stretch of about 50km is in less good condition; mix of concrete and
dirt roads. Construction works are on-going. Budumbara Refugee Camp on the road at about 25 km before
Accra.
Takoradi – Cape Coast
Good concrete road with little traffic
Road Characteristics
Jan – Mar
Apr – Jun
Jul – Sep
Oct - Dec
Total route time 4x4 (hours)
4
4
4
4
Car
Y
Y
Y
Y
4x4
Y
Y
Y
Y
Truck (rigid)
Y
Y
Y
Y
Trailer
Y
Y
Y
Y
Turn-around time for truck and trailers (hours)
1
1
1
1
Obstacles and bridges: Bridge
Comments: Five small bridges in good condition are on the way
Road from Takoradi to Elubo
General Informations
Total distance
140 Km
Total travel time
2 hours
Road classification
n/a
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
n/a
Comments: Good concrete road over 125km, then the road becomes more difficult with some dirt stretches
with little traffic
From Takoradi road to UNHCR Refugee Camp 5 km of good concrete road
A small metallic bridge (Length: 45m, width: 4m) is on the way
Road Characteristics
Jan – Mar
Apr – Jun
Jul – Sep
Oct - Dec
Total route time 4x4 (hours)
2
2
2
2
Car
Y
Y
Y
Y
4x4
Y
Y
Y
Y
Truck (rigid)
Y
Y
Y
Y
Trailer
Y
Y
Y
Y
Turn-around time for truck and trailers (hours)
4
4
4
4
Obstacles and bridges: Bridge
Comments: 7 small bridges, all in good condition
Road from Accra to Paga
General Information
Total distance
Accra – Kumasi: 272 Km
Kumasi – Tamale: 399 Km
Tamale – Bolgatanga: 144 Km
Bolgatanga – Paga: 43 Km
Total travel time
Accra – Kumasi: 5 hours
Kumasi – Tamale: 6 hours
Tamale – Bolgatanga: 2 hours
Bolgatanga – Paga: 0.5 hours
Road classification
n/a
Security
Good
Please note: Tamale is currently UN Security Phase 1
Main towns/hubs
n/a
Toll fees
US$1/axel, US$0.50/car, US$0.80/4x4
Accra – Kumasi
Good but congested road
Kumasi – Tamale
Dirt road from Techiman to Kintampo (50 – 60 km) Road is being rebuilt. After Kintampo very smooth
Tamale – Bolgatanga
Very good road
Bolgatanga – Paga
Good road
Road Characteristics
Jan – Mar
Apr – Jun
Jul – Sep
Oct - Dec
Total route time 4x4 (hours)
14
14
14
14
Car
Y
Y
Y
Y
4x4
Y
Y
Y
Y
Truck (rigid)
Y
Y
Y
Y
Trailer
Y
Y
Y
Y
Turn-around time for truck and trailers (hours)
6
6
6
6
Obstacles and bridges: Bridge
Kumasi – Tamale: 2 bridges: one on the Black Volta and one on the White Volta
Tamale – Bolgatanga: Two steel bridges on the White Volta
Towns and hubs
Road from Accra to Wa
General Informations
Total distance
Accra – Kumasi: 272 Km
Kumasi – Wa: 449 Km
Total travel time
Accra – Kumasi: 5 hours
Kumasi – Wa: 6 hours
Road classification
n/a
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
n/a
Accra – Kumasi: Good but congested road
Kumasi – Wa: Good road with only 20 km Dirt road which still under construction
Road Characteristics
Jan – Mar
Apr – Jun
Jul – Sep
Oct - Dec
Total route time 4x4 (hours)
11
11
11
11
Car
Y
Y
Y
Y
4x4
Y
Y
Y
Y
Truck (rigid)
Y
Y
Y
Y
Trailer
Y
Y
Y
Y
Turn-around time for truck and trailers (hours)
3
3
3
3
Obstacles and bridges: Bridge
Kumasi - Wa: 2 bridges: one on the Black Volta and one on a seasonal river at Sipinsu Village
Towns and hubs
Road from Bolgatanga to Wa
General Information
Total distance
275 Km
Total travel time
5 hours
Road classification
n/a
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
n/a
Comments: 95 km, good concrete road (30 km at the beginning from Bolgatanga and 26 km at the entrance of
Wa) The rest is 209 km dirt road with many culverts.
The dirt road is bad during the rainy season especially at the the culverts which is sometimes washed away by
rains.
Road Characteristics
Jan – Mar
Apr – Jun
Jul – Sep
Oct - Dec
Total route time 4x4 (hours)
4
4
8 – 10
8 – 10
Car
Y
Y
Y
Y
4x4
Y
Y
Y
Y
Truck (rigid)
Y
Y
Y
Y
Trailer
Y
Y
Y
Y
Turn-around time for truck and trailers (hours)
2
2
3–4
3–4
Obstacles and bridges: Bridge
Comments: Two main bridges at Black volta and Sissilu seasonal river
Road from Wa to Tamale
General Informations
Total distance
275 Km
Total travel time
5 hours
Road classification
n/a
Security
Good
Main towns/hubs
n/a
Comments : 167 km, good concrete road (102 at the beginning from Wa and 65 Km at the end from Damngo
to Tamale) While the rest 158 km dirt road which is bad during the wet season.
Road Characteristics
Jan – Mar
Apr – Jun
Jul – Sep
Oct - Dec
Total route time 4x4 (hours)
5
5
8 – 10
8 – 10
Car
Y
Y
Y
Y
4x4
Y
Y
Y
Y
Truck (rigid)
Y
Y
Y
Y
Trailer
Y
Y
Y
Y
Turn-around time for truck and trailers (hours)
2
2
3–4
3–4
Obstacles and bridges: Bridge
Comments: One main bridge at Black Volta.