Ring Road East, Accra


Ring Road East is an urban arterial road in Accra, the capital of Ghana. It forms the eastern section of the city’s broader “Ring Road” network and links key nodes including the Danquah Circle, the NSC/GBC area, the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and the coastal neighbourhood of Osu. The corridor features dense commercial frontage, public transport termini, and remains one of the busiest urban traffic routes in the city.

Route

Ring Road East begins at the Danquah Circle roundabout, which links the road to the western and central sections of the city, then proceeds eastwards through North Ridge, crosses the NSC/Ghana Broadcast Corporation area, passes the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, and continues toward the coastal Osu district and the Gulf of Guinea. The road serves as a link for traffic distribution, public transport routes and frontage for commerce and residential areas.

History

The Ring Road network, including its East segment, was originally constructed in the 1950s–1960s as part of Accra’s post-independence urban planning efforts to circumnavigate the older city-core and manage circulation around the metropolis. Over subsequent decades the road has been progressively upgraded to respond to growing traffic volumes.

Landmarks

Landmarks and nodes along Ring Road East include:

Economy and urban character

Ring Road East is characterised by dense mixed-use development including retail shops, media offices, government service buildings and residential apartments along the length of the corridor.

Transportation challenges and planning

The corridor remains heavily trafficked, especially during peak hours, and suffers from congestion, pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, and limited parking in some segments. Upgrades such as flyovers, interchange improvements and signalisation have been undertaken as part of the city’s mobility improvement programme.

In popular culture and media

Ring Road East frequently features in visual media as a representation of Accra’s heavy traffic and urban transit environment.