The case of building two religious cities along Accra-Kumasi highway

THE LOOMING DANGER, THE CASE OF BUILDING TWO RELIGIOUS CITIES ALONG THE NKAWKAW-KUMASI HIGHWAY.

Take your time and read.

I respect and believe in democracy, freedom of association, worship and all other laws that governs our society to live in harmony.

THE STORY.

Last week from the early hours of 30th December, 2025 to 3rd January, 2026, the nation Ghana

, witnessed a record breaking gridlock between Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region to Konongo and beyond in the Ashanti Region highway a distance of almost 60 km due the gatherings of two mega churches, The Second Chance Church(Philadelphia Movement) sited at Adansi in the Asante Akyem South District led by Reverend Stephen Adom Kyei Dua and Adanse3 Zion City just after Nkawkaw.

I will not wholly blame the two leaders of the mega churches for this nauseating, disgusting, repugnant and uncalled for gridlock but the District Assemblies that gave them the permit to build without due diligence and considering the socio economic impact assessment of such a monumental edifice gathering of religious faithfuls.

Who gave them the land, the permit and the necessary documents for this project? Did they consider the environmental hazards and safety measures of the gatherings of about 100,000 or more near a major highway? The Philadelphia City, is built close to High Tension Electricity

Pylons transmitting power from Akosombo to the Ashanti Region and beyond and the slightest damage with its ramifications, can never be quantified.

THE ENDURANCE.

To be honest if you were a commuter on that stretch of the highway between those 3 days and have been diagnosed of having high blood pressure, kidney disease and prostate issues and you are still alive, thank your stars.

Most shops along the route were closed so there was shortage of water, food and fuel

. Almost all the fuel stations along the stretch run short of fuel because of vehicles staying in traffic for such long to endure this ordeal.

Some walked a distance of almost 30 km from Philadelphia City to Nkawkaw. Motor riders along the route, cashed in within the distracted period. The inconvenience caused, was far above normal. People missed their appointments and flights.

MY EXPERIENCE

I set out from Accra at 11am and reached Nkawkaw a distance of about 140 km around 1 pm. Someone distracted my attention by directing me to detour through Akwasiho to Kofi Dede, a route i have never used before. Eish! I drove through a lonely bush for almost 15 km. I was scared until i met two young boys along the route who were benevolent and assisted me to get to the main highway and that’s where my ordeal started. I stayed in the gridlock from 1.45 pm on 1st January till 4.45 am on the 2nd January. I didn’t see one Policeman helping to direct the traffic flow.

THE CONSEQUENCE.

I can bet my last pesewa that, henceforth if there’s any activity from those two churches on that stretch, we should expect the worst. Until an alternative route is constructed, it is going be a perennial obstacle especially on the Philadelphia side. If our railway system was functioning properly, all these could have been avoided but some people sat aloof and collapsed the railways in order to operate haulage transport system for their parochial interests.

CONCLUSION

As i said when the Anthill develop holes, every specie burrows its way. I won’t blame Rev Stephen Adom Kyei Dua and Zion City much for this mess. They saw the weakness in the system and took advantage of them and here we are reaping its effect. If proper assessments were made before giving them permits, we wouldn’t have caused such mayhem on a New Year’s day. Over to you Joe Lartey. Looking forward to the Accra Kumasi Expressway.

Good beads don’t rattle