By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
The verdict: The road from Accra to Takoradi is a suspension test. And inside Takoradi itself? It’s almost all potholes—big ones, small ones, and the special kind that hold committee meetings. This is supposed to be Ghana’s oil capital, but let’s be honest: it’s not Kuwait.
Welcome to the National Obstacle Course
You don’t drive to Takoradi—you negotiate. One lane slows for a crater, the other lane invents a new route, and your driver mutters, “We go manage.” Google Maps says 3.5 hours; your spine says, “Why are we like this?”
➕ Extra color & road moments
- Kasoa–Winneba Guessing Game: Is that a lane or a memory of a lane? The white line is now history.
- Speed Control Trio: Official speed ramps, unofficial rumble strips, and the natural speed reducer: the pothole with ambition.
- Billboard Bingo: Universities, churches, herbal bitters, and “Coming Soon: Ultra-Modern Something.” The “coming soon” is older than your SIM card.
- Detours of Destiny: One diversion will introduce you to three new villages, two coconut sellers, and a goat with right of way.
- Alignment Roulette: You start the trip pointing north. By Mankessim your steering is networking with the Atlantic.
Oil City… Without the Oil Roads
Takoradi has oil money stories, port traffic, and serious hustle—but the roads? They missed the memo. Imagine a city selling premium exports while the streets run on “please be careful” mode. This is not Dubai, and it’s definitely not Kuwait. It’s Ghana: brilliant, ambitious, and sometimes allergic to asphalt.
➕ Local scenes you’ll recognize
- “Oil City” signboard: Big letters, bigger dreams. The road underneath? Plot twist.
- Market Circle Tango: Cars, trotros, and tricycles (pragya) performing synchronized confusion.
- Pothole Naming Rights: “This one is Oil Well No. 7.” The depth will humble your shock absorbers.
- Rain Mode: Light drizzle = heavy drama. Small lake forms. Everyone becomes a hydrologist.
Business Reality Check (Why it matters)
- Logistics tax: Bad roads add an invisible surcharge to everything—fuel, time, vehicle maintenance, delivery reliability.
- Worker fatigue: Two hours dodging holes = lower productivity on arrival.
- Investment optics: Investors notice roads before pitch decks. First impressions are infrastructure.
Translation: Fixing roads is not “beautification”—it’s economic policy.
➕ Practical KPIs for operators
- Trip Time Variance (TTV): Same route, different mood—track it.
- Shocks per Quarter: If you’re replacing every 3–4 months, it’s not your driver; it’s geology.
- Punctures per 1,000 km: Budget tubes/tyres like you budget fuel.
- On-Time Delivery %: Celebrate anything above 85% in rainy season. You’re a hero.
Roadside Comedy (Only in Ghana)
- That one crater everybody has named: “Dubai Roundabout.”
- The driver who salutes each pothole like a senior officer.
- The motorcycle that floats past you like it knows a secret tunnel.
➕ Funnier because it’s true
- Horn Language: One short beep = “I’m beside you.” Three gentle taps = “Respect my shock absorbers.”
- Trotro Proverbs: Back window reads “NO FOOD FOR LAZY MAN,” while the bus eats the whole lane.
- Passenger Theology: “If we reach in one piece, it is God. If we don’t, it is alignment.”
Survival Kit for the Accra–Tadi Run
- Leave early (and emotionally earlier).
- Sit belt-on, snacks ready, bladder trained.
- Download podcasts—you’ll finish a whole series before Sekondi.
- Carry small cash for surprise detours and tire guys who appear like angels.
➕ Add these to your glovebox
- Tissue & hand sanitizer: Rest stops are…character-building.
- Power bank: Maps + music + MoMo = battery bankruptcy.
- Reusable coffee cup + water: Hydration with potholes is sports science.
- Duct tape & zip ties: For bumpers that decide they prefer independence.
Mini-Playbook for Builders
- Stage deliveries (night/early morning to avoid peak chaos).
- Budget for maintenance—tires, shocks, alignment (quarterly, not yearly).
- Use local micro-warehouses near clients to cut last-mile pain.
- Hire drivers who negotiate roads like chess grandmasters.
➕ Ops tweaks that actually help
- Telematics: Track harsh-brake events (road map of pain).
- Two-Vehicle Strategy: One light van + one motorcycle (pragya) for last mile when roads revolt.
- Spare Parts Float: Keep tyres, bushings, and wiper blades like inventory, not emergencies.
- Driver Bonus for Zero Incidents: Reward safe arrivals, not risky speed.
En Route: Tiny Joys That Save Your Sanity
- Coconut stands that turn a delay into a spa moment.
- Coastal grills near Elmina/Anomabo—smoked fish therapy.
- Sea glimpses that whisper, “Breathe. You’ll get there.”
- Roadside photographers (your memory + their DSLR = proof you survived).
Why Tadi Still Wins (Somehow)
The people. The ports. The seafood. The calm. Takoradi smiles through the bumps and keeps moving. That’s the paradox: a city with oil on paper and potholes in practice—yet a spirit that won’t quit.
➕ Silver linings
- Port Proximity: Importers shave days off lead times.
- Twin-City Talent: Sekondi–Takoradi has technicians who can fix anything with a spanner and faith.
- Seafood Supply Chain: From canoe to plate before your email refreshes.
- Community Networks: Once they know you, doors open—even if roads don’t.
Final line: Oil may be underground, but prosperity lives on the surface. Until the roads are fixed, Ghana is paying extra for everything—one pothole at a time.
📖 Coming Up Next: Chapter 27: Takoradi’s Ghost Mansions & Golden Deals — Why Abandoned Houses in Ghana Are a Value Investor’s Playground
Author: John S. Morlu II, CPA is the CEO and Chief Strategist of JS Morlu, leads a globally recognized public accounting and management consultancy firm. Under his visionary leadership, JS Morlu has become a pioneer in developing cutting-edge technologies across B2B, B2C, P2P, and B2G verticals. The firm’s groundbreaking innovations include AI-powered reconciliation software (ReckSoft.com) and advanced cloud accounting solutions (FinovatePro.com), setting new industry standards for efficiency, accuracy, and technological excellence.