Roundabout connecting Winneba and Accra

Between Accra and Cape Coast, the regional capital, Winneba was the biggest town. It was one of only three ports that handled the nation's marine trade and a thriving port from 1928 to 1962. The other two cities were Accra and Takoradi. Surf-port activities at Winneba (and Accra) were discontinued with the opening of the deep-water harbour at Tema. The importance of small-scale trading in the local economy has since increased. Most retailers had to travel to Accra, the nation's capital, to restock. After the two stations, the Winneba Roundabout served as the town's primary transportation hub; virtually all automobile traffic entering and exiting the town went via it. At the time, intra-city transit was still in its infancy. 

Although the term "Winneba Junction" had not yet acquired popularity, a dedicated bus stop did not exist. People headed for other regions of the nation joined trucks headed for Swedru, got off at the "Roundabout," and kept travelling. 

However, there were other ways to go to Accra besides the "Roundabout" option. A second one connected to the highway leading to Accra at Ekotsi by travelling through minor towns east of Winneba town. 

The Bereku Road, as it is known, runs parallel to the major Cape Coast-Accra highway and is shorter but unpaved, uneven, and dusty; as a result, most drivers avoid it. 

Farms and open places

In Ghana, left-hand driving was the norm. The driver, who was in his or her forties, sat behind the wheel to the right of the car and used his or her left hand to shift gears. 

Along the way, there were even bigger swaths of farms and open countryside. The largest of the three or four communities was actually Awutu Bereku. With the help of milestones, it was possible to calculate the remaining distance at any time.

Defeating police

Save Me O God (SMOG) was written on a car, and the occupants were standing around it, possibly stretching their limbs, as we got closer to Odupong-Kpehe, the final town in the Central Region. We soon came across the driver's assistant jogging. By adding two and two, it was possible to understand what was taking place. A few metres ahead, a driver coming from the opposite direction flashed the lorry's headlight while pointing downward with the right hand to indicate the presence of the police. 

Therefore, the driver of SMOG had executed a deliberate "stop." Because he was transporting one more passenger than was legal, he would have had to pay. By the time they started back up, his friend would have already passed the police.  In those times, drivers showed some respect to the police. 

Oven-on-wheels

Up until this point, the driver's partner on our car had been cooling his heels. Periodically, he fell asleep. 

The last town in the Central Region, Odukpong-Kpehe, was the one we were going to leave when it began to rain. He swiftly stood up to show that he was in control of the situation. The'shutters' came down in a minute. 

The five tarpaulin drapes that were used as the'shutters' were essentially just that. When it rained, they unfolded after being folded and secured to the truck's roof. 

All of the passengers were protected from the rain by the loose ends being held tightly to the car by those sat on the extreme ends. The car abruptly changed into an oven on wheels. 

The air inside the car was so dense that breathing became a challenge. A certain gentleman occasionally flipped the curtain open to let air enter. 

Some of us were impressed by his persistence despite being slightly soaked. The rain stopped, and we all breathed a sigh of relief.

1967 marked 64 years since the introduction of automobiles on the Gold Coast. The amount of inconvenience and suffering related to travel has substantially decreased because to technological improvements. 

Jesus Christ made a reference to the perils that faced travellers at the time in the Parable of the Sower. The basic word for "travel," "travail," sums it all up.

The coast road

The coastal road from the Winneba Roundabout entered the city in 1954 by turning right at the Panbros neighbourhood and travelling through the neighbourhoods of Chorkor, Korle Gonno, and Akoto Lante. 

Winneba Road is still a standing example of the original plan today. However, Accra "moved" in the early 1960s when Okaishie formed as the new Central Business District (CBD) and an industrial park erupted about three kilometres to the north. 

The revised coastal route went via Kaneshie as a result of the subsequent spatial rearrangement. Following Mango Line, the landmarks disappeared, and the total area of constructed areas exceeded that of open spaces. I didn't need to be informed that we were outside of Accra. 

Close to Accra Central

Our car came to a stop in front of Accra Academy, near the police barricade. But after exchanging pleasantries with the driver, the policeman simply waved us on. For the first time, we got stuck in traffic. 

A newspaper salesman sped over to our car. However, this one did not have the same luck as his counterpart in Winneba; no one seemed to be interested in his goods. It turned out that we were nearing the Obetsebi Lamptey Roundabout, formerly known as Abbosey Okai.  In contrast to the roundabout in Winneba, this one was so congested that street hawking was possible. 

At the crossroads, we made a right turn, and then after approximately 100 metres, we made a left. I came across Accra High School near a bridge across the Korle Lagoon; its run-down structures did not live up to the moniker. We made a second left turn for the finish line at the timber market. Without any multiple carriageways, a traffic snarl, or an army of street vendors, with the exception of the newspaper man we encountered near the Abossey Okai Roundabout, we had spent around two hours travelling the 60 kilometres. The fare was 30 pesewas, which is less than half of the 65 pesewas minimum daily pay.

Distinctive qualities

The two Makola markets, department stores, high-rise buildings, neon signs, and cold chocolate drinks sold with meat pies were among the landmarks that surfaced during the pre-departure information search. Kojo Thompson, a local politician who attended Winneba Methodist Middle School and whose name is on the city's longest road, was another person I had learned about.

I was prepared for these sights and more as we made our way into the CBD.  Instead of the four hawkers I saw in Winneba, there were many more at Tudu's primary truck station trying to get my attention with their wares. I kept going in the direction of the Ghana National Fire Service station, which was supposed to be the CBD's geographic centre. 

There appeared this public restroom with a strong odour all of a sudden. Although it wasn't mentioned in the literature, that one was a well-known sight. 

Author is a former lecturer.