Traffic Congestion Silently Drags on Ghana’s GDP — Financial Advisor Warns
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
Long hours spent in traffic are quietly undermining Ghana’s economic potential, Financial Advisor Benjamin Nathan Otchere has said, highlighting the hidden costs of congestion on productivity and national output. Speaking on The Focus on Zed 101.9FM, Mr. Otchere described traffic as more than a mere inconvenience, calling it a structural drag on the economy.
“People sitting in traffic for long hours shows that we’re not there yet as a country, and we need to find a balance. Why would people in this modern age travel for hours when we could have a train cover the same journey in minutes underground? If we had these kinds of infrastructure, we wouldn’t be seeing people wasting hours in traffic every day,” he said.
He stressed that the impact goes beyond personal frustration, directly affecting workplace productivity and, by extension, Ghana’s GDP. “Long hours in traffic is one of the things that silently contributes to the kind of GDP we are seeing. It affects our output. If you have three people working on production and your daily target is 300 units, each person is responsible for 100. However, if one person is stuck in traffic, they may produce just 20 or 30 units instead of their full 100. The target is eventually met, but the lost productivity translates into lower efficiency and weaker contribution to GDP and this is rarely discussed,” Mr. Otchere explained.
He elaborated that the aggregate effect of traffic delays across industries and sectors is substantial. “When thousands of workers are delayed daily, the lost man-hours accumulate into a measurable economic loss. It is not just about one person being late; it is about what the entire economy is losing every single day,” he noted.
Mr. Otchere also pointed to broader implications for competitiveness. “Countries with efficient transport networks are able to move goods, services, and people faster, which directly boosts industrial productivity. Ghana cannot afford to let traffic bottlenecks silently erode our economic gains,” he said.
According to the financial advisor, urban planning, public transport investment, and adoption of modern mobility solutions like underground trains, dedicated bus lanes, and smart traffic management systems are critical. “If we address our traffic problems, our GDP would be higher than it is now, because productivity would be higher. Mobility is not just a convenience, it is an economic necessity,” he said.
He urged policymakers and stakeholders to view transport not just as infrastructure, but also as a strategic economic tool. “Every minute lost in traffic is a lost opportunity to create wealth, innovate, and contribute to the growth of the nation. By improving our transport systems, we not only save time for citizens, we also unlock the economic potential of our workforce,” he concluded.
