The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) has temporarily shut down a section of the Kumasi–Ejura Highway at Sataso after heavy flooding caused significant damage to road infrastructure, disrupting traffic along one of the Ashanti Region’s key transport corridors.
The closure follows days of intense rainfall that weakened an already affected section of the highway, leading to the collapse of a temporary culvert installed to facilitate movement during ongoing repair works.
Officials say the road first suffered major damage on May 30 when torrential rains washed away part of the highway, prompting emergency interventions. To keep traffic moving, engineers constructed a temporary diversion route while plans for permanent restoration were being developed.
However, continuous downpours over the past several days overwhelmed the temporary structure, washing away the culvert and rendering the diversion unusable.
In response, the Ghana Highway Authority has suspended traffic on the affected stretch to allow engineers and contractors to undertake urgent reconstruction works.
The Kumasi–Ejura Road serves as a critical link between Kumasi and several farming and commercial communities in the Ashanti Region. The route is heavily used by traders, transport operators, farmers and commuters who rely on it for the movement of goods and services between northern and southern parts of the region.
To minimise disruption, motorists travelling between Kumasi and Ejura have been directed to use an alternative route through Mampong, Kofiase, Anyinasu, Sekyeredumase and Aframso before reconnecting to the main highway. Drivers travelling in the opposite direction have been advised to follow the same diversion.
The Authority has appealed to road users to exercise caution along the alternative route, obey traffic signs and cooperate with personnel deployed to manage traffic flow.
Meanwhile, reconstruction works have commenced at the damaged section, with engineers racing against time to restore access and reduce the impact on businesses and commuters who depend on the corridor daily.
The latest incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of road infrastructure to extreme weather conditions, particularly during the peak rainy season, and has renewed calls for more resilient drainage systems and flood-control measures on major highways across the country.
The Ghana Highway Authority has assured the public that every effort is being made to complete the emergency works and reopen the road safely as soon as possible.
