Motorists using the Dr. Busia Highway at the Kaneshie Pamprom Junction will experience a significant traffic diversion starting Monday, September 7, 2026. This diversion is due to the commencement of a major stormwater drainage project under the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project. The westbound carriageway at Pamprom Junction will be temporarily closed, which will affect motorists heading towards First Light Junction and beyond. This closure is expected to last until the end of November 2026 as contractors carry out the first phase of the drainage works.
The project aims to replace the existing drainage pipes along the Kaneshie-Mallam Highway with a new double-cell underground rectangular drain that will be approximately 10 meters wide and span 1.95 kilometers. The overall drainage works are scheduled to take place from September 2026 to October 2027 and are part of the government’s initiatives to address ongoing flooding issues and improve stormwater management in the Odaw Basin.
In anticipation of this closure, the Minister for Works, Housing, and Water Resources, Ahmed Ibrahim, has instructed the contractor to implement comprehensive traffic management measures to minimise disruptions and ensure the safety of both motorists and pedestrians.
During an inspection of preparations at Pamprom Junction and other parts of the corridor, Mr Ibrahim called for clearly marked diversion routes, adequate road signs, proper barricades and sufficient traffic management personnel at key intersections.
“The safety and convenience of the motoring public must remain a top priority throughout this exercise,” he said, stressing the need for a robust traffic management plan to keep traffic moving while the drainage works are undertaken. The Minister also directed the contractor to intensify public education on the closure and approved alternative routes through television, radio, online platforms and community engagements.
He said commuters should be given sufficient notice to plan their journeys and avoid unnecessary delays. The Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly have also been tasked to remove all on-street parking along the designated diversion routes by close of business on Saturday to improve traffic flow.
GARID Project Coordinator, Dr Kwadwo Ohene Sarfo, said the first phase of the traffic management plan would run until the end of November 2026. The initial phase is expected to be completed by November, while the remaining drainage works are scheduled for completion by October 2027.
For motorists who regularly use the busy Kaneshie-Mallam corridor, the immediate impact will be the diversion at Pamprom from Monday. Authorities are urging commuters to take note of the approved alternative routes, allow extra time for their journeys and follow traffic signs and instructions from personnel deployed along the corridor.
The drainage project is expected to provide a long-term solution to stormwater management problems along the corridor and strengthen the resilience of communities and roads that have repeatedly been affected by flooding.
