Let’s Talk about Traffic, by Mercedes Wright

After residing in Accra for the past 5 weeks, I’ve grown fairly accustomed to the traffic scene which is a bit of a nightmare if I’m being honest.

During my first few days the traffic was unlike anything than I’ve ever seen before and I’m from the city with the 3rd highest traffic rating in America (yes, that’s a real thing).

But what makes traffic in Accra and the surrounding areas so different than the ones back home is the chaotic pattern of driving. Driver’s swerve in and out of lanes without even so much as a blinker for a signal. Usually, a quick flick of the wrist or a high-pitched sound from their lips is enough to let another driver know that they’re going to force themselves into the other lane.

The amount of times that you are at a standstill waiting for any kind of movement seems endless, making even the shortest of drives feel like an eternity. For example, my internship is approximately 3 miles away from our house. That commute in peak morning traffic takes an Uber an entire hour to complete, meaning that I spend at least two hours a day in traffic at the minimum.

Long story short I spend a lot of my time inside of a tiny car, so I’ve curated a few tips along the way that might help if you ever find yourself in Accra.

Tip 1:

Always bring a water bottle with you. Your 20-minute drive can turn into 40 minutes with one wrong turn, so you have to make sure that you’re staying hydrated.

Tip 2:

Make sure that you break your big bills early on. Most Uber or Bolt rides are no more than 20ish cedis so trying to ask for change with a large bill won’t work out great for you.

Tip 3:

Never trust the price of an Uber during peak hours. Although you may have agreed upon a price through the app, it can always change depending on traffic congestion so always carry a little more cedis than you think you may need for a trip.

Tip 4:

The cars are tiny here. Whenever you have the chance, always take the front seat for extra legroom!

Tip 5:

Carpool with other people whenever you can. Kind of a no brainer I know, but sharing cars cuts down the price significantly.

Tip 6:

Uber sucks. Try Bolt instead for a better price.

Tip 7:

If you have a promo code use it!

Tip 8:

Try and take the trotro at least once, so that you can say you survived Accra traffic while riding one.

Tip 9:

Always remember to breathe, you’ll get there soon!