Ghana's crippling traffic is silently draining the nation's economic lifeblood. This isn't just about being late for work; it's a fundamental threat to Ghana's progress, according to Franklin Cudjoe, the CEO of the IMANI Centre for Policy and Education. He paints a stark picture of how transport woes are reversing the very engines of global economic growth.
Cudjoe, in a Facebook post dated January 18, 2026, masterfully connects the dots between civilization's advancements in transportation and economic power. From the humble wheel to today's high-speed travel, moving people and goods faster and more efficiently has always been the key. But here's where it gets controversial: he argues that Ghana's transport system is essentially stuck in reverse.
He uses Marchetti's Constant – the idea that humans tend to spend about an hour a day commuting – to illustrate the problem. Think about it: are Ghanaians spending more time on the road than they are contributing at work?
Cudjoe points out the absurdity of a 1.5-hour commute for a mere 19-kilometer journey from Amasaman to Madina. He calls these delays a hidden tax on the nation's Gross Domestic Product. The daily grind starts at 3:30 a.m. for many, who leave their homes before dawn to escape the inevitable traffic. Major routes like Madina–Accra, Tema–Accra, Nsawam–Accra, and Kasoa–Accra are already gridlocked by 6:00 a.m.
And this is the part most people miss: Cudjoe emphasizes the impact of these long commutes on worker productivity and health. Exhaustion before the workday even begins, coupled with chronic stress, leads to poorer health outcomes, potentially contributing to rising cases of hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. He suggests that the 'slow wheel' of Ghana's transport system is enslaving its workforce, rather than liberating them.
He also highlights the 'logistics purgatory' of stalled road projects and a failing rail system. With 95 percent of freight and passenger movement relying on roads, the cycle of damage, slow speeds, and high costs continues. Every hour a truck carrying goods breaks down, the price of those goods increases.
Cudjoe calls for urgent reforms to support Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy agenda, including:
- Shifting freight transport to rail.
- Introducing dedicated bus lanes.
- Modernizing 'trotros' (shared taxis) with transport unions.
- Prioritizing the completion of stalled road projects.
He concludes with a powerful call to action: "The wheel was invented to move us forward; it is time we made it turn again in Ghana."
What do you think? Do you agree with Cudjoe's assessment? Are the proposed solutions viable? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
