5.2 Local unpaved roads in slum areas: Accra

Develop a quality network of sidewalks, pedestrian-centered traffic management and crossings, and bike lanes to enhance local connectivity to communities, and integration with other modes, to tackle local connectivity to communities and nonmotorized transport

In a hITs, last-mile connectivity—that is, connecting the transit network with neighborhoods—plays a critical role, especially for the most vulnerable populations, which include low-income groups, women, and people with disabilities.

Paving local roads in a strategic manner to connect with the rest of the network will allow bus transit routes to access neighborhoods. Lack of suitable roads, for example, constrains the distribution of the public transport network to communities in Accra (map 5.2), Kumasi, and Tamale that have very poor first- and last-mile connectivity because it is inhibited by unpaved roads that are extremely uneven. such poor roads in these areas further suffer from extreme weather conditions such as heavy rainfall and flooding.

Meanwhile, integration of nonmotorized modes with the rest of the network can be realized through safe walking routes from transport nodes and relevant infrastructure such as bicycle lanes and parking at stations. Adapted infrastructure such as ramps for the physically challenged can help integrate the most vulnerable in labor markets. Improved lighting and the overall safety environment of walking areas will improve road safety and safety for women.

Because cycling is a common mode of transport in northern Ghana, investments in the bicycle infrastructure in Tamale is particularly important. According to the 2017 Ghana Living standards survey, bicycle ownership in cities in northern Ghana is significantly higher than in cities in other regions. Opportunities to encourage the use of bicycles and to discourage the transition toward motorcycles in cities such as Tamale could demonstrate the positive social and environmental effects of sustainable demand management policies.

MAP 5.2

Local unpaved roads in slum areas: Accra

Identify gaps in the road network hierarchy and implement improvements in traffic management

Ghanaian cities should identify gaps in the road network hierarchy in order to balance the number of main, secondary, tertiary, and community road networks. Identification of the missing links should follow a clear functional hierarchy in which roads and paths are categorized in terms of their use within the network as a whole so the exercise can serve as an aid to design, adaptation, and management.

Paving local roads in a strategic manner to connect with the rest of the network will allow public transport routes to access neighborhoods. It will have a significant impact on the local access of low-income communities.

Lack of a comprehensive traffic and parking management plan in many Ghanaian cities affects traffic flow and road safety. Basic improvements in traffic and parking management could bring about remarkable improvements in intersection efficiency and road safety. More complex traffic management improvements include implementation of the “smart city” concept in traffic management. For example, in 2019 Accra launched a traffic management center that uses an advanced integrated transit system (ITs) to manage an adaptive traffic control system. An ITs should be integrated with other mass transit and road improvement interventions, including junction remodeling.

Implement transport demand management plans to encourage the use of greener and more sustainable transport modes, and reduce the number of trips and their length

Transport demand management (TDM) consists of incentives to redistribute the demand of transport in space and time or reduce the demand to travel. In general, these incentives contribute toward objectives such as network efficiency, enhancement of access to jobs and services, and reductions in emissions.

TDM comprises a broad range of measures. Ghanaian cities should develop TDM plans in which solutions are integrated into the overall urban mobility plan. A critical area is parking management to discourage the use of private vehicles as well as to promote efficiency, safety, and better use of urban space. Another critical TDM area is promoting the use of greener and more efficient modes of transport (such as walking, cycling, and public transport) that provide less incentive to use private vehicles. Measures to promote transit-oriented development and densification around transit stations promote the use of public transport and nonmotorized transport and have a significant impact on accessibility. Finally, policies to reduce travel, such as promoting home-based work, should also be part of the TDM adopted by Ghanaian cities, taking advantage of new technologies.

Respond to COVID-19 in urban transport and rethink the sector to build back better

Inclusion of urban mobility in the response to COVID-19 is essential and is buttressed by four objectives: (1) saving lives; (2) protecting the poor and vulnerable; (3) ensuring sustainable business growth and job creation; and (4) strengthening policies, institutions, and investments for building a better future.