Accra, Ghana — August 27, 2026 — Motorists and commuters utilizing the Kaneshie-Mallam Highway face extensive traffic disruptions starting September 7, 2026, as the government initiates major stormwater drainage construction along the corridor. Project coordinators from the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project announced the upcoming closures during the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Tuesday, August 26, 2026.
The construction initiative aims to replace outdated and undersized drainage pipes with a massive, double-cell underground rectangular stormwater drain measuring approximately 10 meters wide and stretching 1.5 kilometers. Officials stated that the engineering intervention is critical to mitigating perennial flooding across flood-prone low-lying districts in the capital, including Kaneshie, Avenor, and surrounding commercial enclaves.
Phased Implementation and Closure Timeline
The infrastructure overhaul will execute across structured operational phases to minimize total gridlock across the vital west bank corridor. The first phase commences on September 7, 2026, with the complete closure of the westbound carriageway of the Dr Busia Highway starting from Pamprom Junction through November 2026.
While Pamprom Junction is scheduled to reopen in early December 2026, subsequent westbound stretches between Kaneshie Station and First Light Junction will remain closed through August 2027. A final phase scheduled for September 2027 will address sections linking First Light Junction to the Cocoa Clinic Roundabout, concluding by October 2027.
Designated Alternative Routes and Diversion Plan
Collaborating with the Department of Urban Roads, project engineers have mapped out alternative transit corridors to reroute traffic originating from Korle Bu, Graphic Road, Obetsebi Lamptey Circle, and Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Affected motorists traveling toward First Light Junction will divert through Awudome Cemetery Road, New Times Road, Awudome Roundabout, Oblogo, and Mataheko.
Additionally, drivers can utilize the Obetsebi Interchange to Oblogo Traffic Light and Mataheko corridor. Transport operators and commercial drivers have been advised to incorporate extra travel time into their daily schedules or avoid the construction zone entirely unless conducting local business.
Mitigating Flood Risks in the Odaw River Basin
The drainage works form a core component of the broader GARID initiative, which is supported by the World Bank to upgrade flood-risk and solid waste management within the Odaw River basin. The new drainage channel links the recently completed engineering works on the Accra Academy campus directly to existing subterranean infrastructure.
Minister for Works and Housing Ahmed Ibrahim emphasized that public cooperation and comprehensive multi-lingual communication campaigns are vital to the success of the multi-month engineering project. Road safety signs and traffic control personnel will be deployed across all diversion points ahead of the September launch.
What caused the temporary road closures along the Kaneshie-Mallam Highway?
The temporary road closures along the Kaneshie-Mallam Highway were caused by the initiation of major construction works for a 1.5-kilometer, 10-meter-wide underground stormwater drainage system under the GARID project to eliminate perennial flooding.Construction work and traffic diversions along the westbound carriageway of the Dr Busia Highway are officially scheduled to begin on September 7, 2026.