Rising Skylines, Hidden Hazards: The Growing Danger of Roadside Sand and Gravel in Accra
Accra is changing before our eyes. Across the city, cranes rise above neighbourhoods that once consisted largely of modest homes and open plots of land. Apartment complexes are emerging in Cantonments, Labone and East Legon, commercial developments are transforming the Spintex corridor, and gated communities are expanding toward Adenta and Oyibi. New office buildings are steadily redefining the capital’s skyline.
For many residents, these changes symbolize progress. The construction boom reflects investment, economic growth and the gradual transformation of Accra into a modern metropolitan hub. New buildings promise improved housing, expanding business opportunities and the infrastructure needed for a growing urban population.
Yet beneath this visible transformation lies a quieter problem accompanying the city’s rapid development: heaps of sand, gravel, chippings and other construction materials deposited along the edges of public roads.
Across many neighbourhoods in Accra, piles of construction materials are frequently left along roadside shoulders while building projects are underway. In some cases, the heaps extend onto the roadway; in others, they block pedestrian walkways, forcing people onto the road. Sometimes these piles remain there for days before they are used.
During the day, motorists and pedestrians usually manage to navigate around them. Drivers slow down and steer around the obstruction while pedestrians step aside and continue walking. Because the sight has become so common, it rarely attracts much attention.
But the situation changes significantly at night.
Many residential and secondary roads across Accra suffer from poor or inconsistent street lighting. In areas where lamps are broken, dim or absent, visibility drops sharply after sunset. Under these conditions, piles of sand and gravel that blend with the road surface can be difficult to spot until a driver is almost upon them.
For motorists unfamiliar with an area, the sudden appearance of an unmarked mound of sand can trigger dangerous reactions. Drivers may swerve abruptly to avoid the obstruction, risking collisions with oncoming vehicles. Motorcyclists may lose control when encountering loose gravel scattered across the road, while pedestrians pushed off sidewalks may find themselves walking dangerously close to traffic.
In a city already grappling with road safety challenges, such hazards are far from trivial. When obstacles reduce drivers’ reaction time or push pedestrians into traffic lanes, the likelihood of accidents increases.
The irony is that the danger does not come from development itself. Construction and infrastructure expansion are necessary for urban growth, and building activity remains an important driver of economic progress.
The problem lies instead in poor site management and weak enforcement of basic urban rules.
In many parts of Accra, construction materials are delivered and offloaded wherever space appears available, often the nearest roadside. Instead of being stored within the boundaries of the building site, sand and gravel are frequently deposited on public land such as road shoulders, sidewalks or drainage edges.
Once deposited, these materials may remain unattended for extended periods. Rarely are they marked with reflective tape, safety cones or warning signs that could alert drivers and pedestrians.
In effect, public roads become informal storage spaces for private construction projects.
This reflects a broader challenge facing rapidly expanding cities: the tension between rapid development and the enforcement of basic urban regulations. Local authorities such as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are responsible for maintaining order and safety within their jurisdictions. Yet the continued presence of roadside sand heaps suggests that enforcement is inconsistent in many neighbourhoods.
At night, the consequences become more serious. A driver navigating a dimly lit residential street may suddenly encounter a pile of sand occupying part of the lane. A motorcycle rider may skid on loose gravel scattered across the road surface. A pedestrian walking home may be forced into traffic because a walkway has been blocked by building materials.
Each of these situations represents a preventable risk.
The solutions are neither complicated nor expensive. Local assemblies could enforce bylaws requiring that construction materials be stored within building sites rather than on public roads. Where temporary roadside storage is unavoidable, contractors could be required to install reflective markers, cones or temporary barriers to alert road users.
Ultimately, the issue raises a broader question about urban development in Accra. As the city grows upward with new buildings and expanding infrastructure, attention must also be paid to what is happening at ground level.
A modern city is not defined only by its skyline. It is defined by how safely residents can move through their neighbourhoods — whether driving home at night, riding a motorcycle along a side street, or simply walking along the roadside.
Accra’s transformation is undeniable. But progress should never come at the expense of basic public safety. Because while towering buildings may symbolize the city’s future, the true measure of progress lies in how safe the roads remain beneath them.
By: Baaba Hayfron
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