Kumasi has been hit by heavy traffic congestion ahead of the Christmas holidays, forcing frustrated commuters to walk long distances after spending hours in stalled vehicles. Despite police deployment and traffic-management efforts, major routes across the Ashanti regional capital have been overwhelmed by a surge in the number of vehicles entering the city.

Long queues stretched across busy corridors including Kejetia, Sofoline, Adum, Bantama and Abrepo Junction, with some passengers spending up to four hours waiting for transportation. At Kejetia, several commuters told MyJoyOnline they had no option but to abandon the queues and walk home.

“We left home early, hoping to beat the rush, but the traffic has been worse than we imagined,” one commuter said. Another added, “By the time we got a car, it was already dark, and some of us who live closer to the city had to walk home.”

Transport operators say the demand for vehicles has exceeded supply. A station master who spoke to MyJoyOnline explained that drivers were struggling to keep up. “Drivers are doing their best, but the demand is overwhelming. We ask everyone to be patient and give us a little time to get you where you need to go,” he said.

The gridlock has been particularly severe on the Kejetia-Sofoline corridor, the Adum-Ahodwo roundabout, the Bantama-Abrepo stretch and the Suman road. Motorists reported a mix of slow-moving traffic, frequent stoppages and an influx of commercial minibuses attempting to squeeze through the jam.

Although police motor traffic officers and members of the KMA taskforce are on duty, MyJoyOnline understands that the sheer volume of vehicles—combined with the traditional pre-holiday movement of people—has overwhelmed existing control measures.

The situation comes as Kumasi readies itself for a packed lineup of Christmas events and market activities, which typically attract thousands of visitors to the city. Transport managers are urging residents to plan their journeys early as authorities work to ease the flow of traffic during the festive season.