Abstract:
An effective transportation system is significantly important in sustaining
economic growth in modern-day economies as it provides connections
between different parts of the country and the global world. Good road
network links to work, deliver products to market, underpins logistics and
supply chain, and also support local and international trade. However, it has
been observed that road traffic congestion has been a major transport
challenge faced by cities in Ghana. It is against these premise that this study is
been conducted to investigate the causes and effects of traffic congestion in
the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. The target population of the study were
drivers, motor-cycle riders and stakeholders involved in road traffic
management. A total of 198 respondents were sampled for the study.
Questionnaire and interview guides were employed for data collection.
Interviews were transcribed and then categorised under specific themes. Data
from questionnaire were analysed using frequencies, percentages, means and
standard deviations. Results indicated that the major causes of road traffic
congestion included picking and dropping of passengers on the road,
inadequate parking space, inadequate routes, illegal parking, as well as bad
attitudes of drivers in the metropolis. Economically traffic congestion
increased drivers expenditure on fuel and also passengers complained of
delays to work and other social activities. Current road traffic congestion
measures instituted to check the traffic situation were not effective in reducing
the menace. The study recommends that, rules governing road traffic acts in
the metropolis should be enforced by the Motor and Traffic Directorate of the
Ghana Police Service and Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly.
