Christmas is a time for family and loved ones to come together, but if you’re an expat living in Accra and planning to visit your family back home, then there are some things you need to plan for. The Christmas traffic in Accra is always a nightmare. Being stuck in traffic for hours is hell. Especially when the air conditioner does not work in the car. Each year, during the Christmas season, traffic in Accra is at its peak. The rush and influx of families from the diaspora and other cities to buy Christmas gifts for loved ones contribute to the increase in traffic we experience in Accra each year.
Even during an era plagued by a global pandemic, traffic in Accra remains a major concern during the holiday season. But don’t worry. Even if you don’t have a helicopter, here are some tips and tricks to help you avoid traffic jams in Accra.
Leave Home Early
Christmas season is here. Have you set off early enough to avoid the long queues on the roads? It is during this period of the year that most people are on the move to visit their families, and they are likely to cause traffic congestion on the roads. If you leave early enough and plan your route well, you can avoid the worst of the traffic and still arrive in time for the festivities.
Draw a Suitable Route for your Journey
Use Google Maps to see your route and plan the best route for your errand. Google Maps gives you the expected traffic conditions on a particular road. Estimates are usually updated and relatively accurate. You can also take advantage of the awesome Traffic Ghana service. Real-time traffic information from various points in Accra such as Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, Oxford Street, Tema Interchange, Giffard Burma Camp and Airport City Bypass. More roads have been built and improved this year to provide more flexibility in route selection.
Leverage on Various Delivery Services
If you live in Accra, you know how difficult it is to move around during Christmas. Although traffic is always a problem in Accra, it is even worse during Christmas when people are coming in to town to see their families, buy gifts, and eat food. To avoid the traffic and have your gifts delivered in time for Christmas, you can use one of the many delivery services in Accra.
Move Out When Necessary
This point seems obvious, but it is very important. If you don’t need to go out, don’t. Driving for no reason will only make traffic worse. You can also use public transport to save time. Public transport drivers (trotro drivers) have a lot of experience this season and always look for the shortest route to avoid traffic jams. If your destination is not far, you can also walk. This saves you the hassle of getting into traffic jams and is good for your health.
Obviously, not everything can be delivered, and if you want to spend time with family and friends, you will have to go out occasionally. However, whenever you want to visit a shopping mall, restaurant or other fun place in Accra during this Christmas season, keep the above information in mind to avoid traffic jams.
