Commuters welcome McCarthy-Mallam road repairs after Joy SMS appeals

Road users on the McCarthy-Mallam stretch of the Accra-Cape Coast Highway are seeing some relief as rehabilitation works begin after weeks of complaints aired on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show.

The Joy SMS team repeatedly highlighted the road’s deteriorating condition after commuters called and messaged the programme to complain about hours spent in traffic.

Motorists said potholes and damaged sections of the road had worsened congestion, disrupted their journeys and left many exhausted before arriving at work.

One listener, who lives at Kasoa Millennium City Estate, described the daily struggle to reach Mallam Junction despite leaving home early.

“Nothing has changed ooo. Good morning, Joy FM Super Morning Show team.

“I live at Kasoa Millennium City Estate and left home at 5:30 a.m. today, yet I was nowhere near Mallam Junction. Traffic is terrible between Ayigbe Town Junction, West Hills Mall, the old barrier, Mallam and Kaneshie.

“The ongoing construction at Hansonic Junction, the Kaneshie footbridge works, and a major pothole near the traffic lights are making things worse. The stretch between West Hills Mall and the old barrier alone can take 30–48 minutes, especially on Mondays!

“Even the new Weija Dam road, which offers an alternative route, is becoming congested as more motorists discover it. Joy FM, please help us amplify our concerns. How much longer must commuters endure this daily struggle? We need urgent action from the authorities!”

Another listener, who lives at SCC, recounted how traffic disrupted an early-morning journey to McCarthy Hill.

“Good morning, Joy FM. I left my house at SCC at exactly 6:00 a.m. today to meet someone at McCarthy Hill at 7:00 a.m., as agreed. The person left East Legon at 6:00 a.m. and arrived at McCarthy Hill at 6:39 a.m. Meanwhile, I am only just getting to Weija Junction!

“How can someone travel from East Legon to McCarthy Hill in 39 minutes while I have spent over an hour travelling from SCC and have not even reached my destination? Hmm.”

Sakyibea, another listener, said the poor road conditions and construction works had made commuting from Kasoa increasingly exhausting.

“Good morning, Winston. The problem with the Kasoa-Accra road is the deplorable state from the West Hills Mall to Mallam Junction. I live in Kasoa, and I have to leave home by 4:30 a.m. to get to my office at Ridge. I get to work exhausted, and I get little sleep.

“The situation has worsened as I have to deal with Darkuman to Kaneshie traffic due to the construction works going on. #joysms,” Sakyibea texted.

Listeners report improvement as work begins

On Monday, October 26, some listeners reported an improvement in traffic following the commencement of rehabilitation works around Mallam Junction, although concerns remain about other sections of the route.

“Good morning, Winston and team. True, the Mallam Junction portion of the road has been worked on, and the traffic situation has improved. However, the Kokrobite-Old Barrier stretch remains unattended to. The Honourable Roads Minister should pay attention to that as well,” Dr Bruce, a listener from Oshiyie near Kokrobite, texted.

Another listener welcomed the ongoing work, saying: “Joy FM, they are working on the road from McCarthy to Mallam Junction. God bless you all abundantly!”

The reports of improvement follow sustained calls on the programme for authorities to address the road’s deteriorating condition and the resulting congestion.

Weija-Gbawe MP petitions Roads Minister

On October 19, the Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, also petitioned the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, to order urgent repairs to the Weija Junction-to-Mallam section.

The stretch is notorious for heavy traffic, with congestion often worsening during the rainy season when flooding affects parts of the route.

The rehabilitation works have offered some relief to commuters, but residents and road users are calling for the remaining affected sections to be addressed.

They hope the ongoing intervention will lead to a lasting solution that reduces travel times, improves road safety and eases the daily burden on commuters travelling between Kasoa and Accra.