Four Hours to Work, Four Hours Home: The Human Cost of the Kasoa–Mallam Crisis

Every weekday before dawn, thousands of workers living in Kasoa and its surrounding communities begin a journey that takes more than it gives. Some rise as early as 3:00 a.m. — not because their jobs demand it, but because the Kasoa–Mallam road has become one of Ghana’s most punishing daily obstacles.

A trip that should take less than an hour now stretches to three or four hours each way. By the time commuters reach Accra, they arrive exhausted. By the time they return home, their children are asleep, family time has vanished, and another day has been lost to traffic.

This is no longer just a transportation challenge. It is a national productivity crisis.

The economic cost of this gridlock is enormous. Employees report late through no fault of their own. Businesses lose productive hours as workers arrive fatigued and mentally drained. Transport operators and private motorists spend more on fuel and vehicle maintenance — costs that eventually trickle down to the ordinary consumer.

The Kasoa–Mallam corridor is one of the busiest gateways to the capital and a critical economic artery linking the Central Region to Accra. Yet for years, commuters have endured congestion, poor road conditions, and delays with little relief in sight.

Beyond the financial burden lies a deeper human cost. Prolonged hours in traffic contribute to stress, anxiety, and declining physical and mental well-being. Parents miss important family moments, social relationships suffer, and the quality of life of thousands of hardworking Ghanaians continues to deteriorate.

The resilience of commuters should not be mistaken for acceptance. People have simply learned to endure what should never have become normal.

A nation cannot aspire to greater productivity while a significant portion of its workforce spends up to eight hours each day trapped in traffic. The time lost on the Kasoa–Mallam road is time that could be devoted to productive work, family life, education, rest, and personal development.

The plight of Kasoa–Mallam commuters deserves urgent and sustained attention. Ghana needs not only short-term interventions but also long-term, integrated transportation solutions that recognize the strategic importance of this corridor.

The question we must ask ourselves is simple: How much longer can we expect thousands of hardworking Ghanaians to spend half their day in traffic simply to earn a living?

By Albert Senyo Zoranoo
A Political Activist, Bortianor/Ngleshie-Amanfro Constituency