Roads, Transport and Information Communication Technology (ICT)

The capacity of an efficient and effective transport and communications system to influence socio-economic development is no longer a debatable issue.  The permissive role of good road and telecommunications breaking urban and rural barriers and easing access to economic activities cannot be over emphasised.  The compact nature and limited spatial extent of the Cape Coast Municipality has made it possible for all parts to be extensively interconnected.

Roads and Transport

Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly has a potential in tourism and therefore requires a good number of roads (to improve on the riding quality), construction of drains and culverts (to improve on sanitation) and a very good traffic management to enhance free flow of traffic that will benefit all road users including pedestrians and to boost socio-economic activities and tourism in the Municipality.

Currently, the department of Urban Roads controls a total of 220.83km of Road Network of which 17.60km is asphalted; 106.93km is bituminous and 96.30km gravelled. Cape Coast, as an old town, has narrow roads with very old buildings situated so close to the edges of the road and thereby making it difficult for future expansion to cater for such a growing populace with corresponding volume of vehicular and human traffic.  The situation has made it extremely impossible to create walkways along the streets / roads in the Municipality, especially in core Cape Coast.  

Thus, roads in the Municipality lack walkways, very important ingredient of urban transport system. Pedestrians are therefore forced to compete with vehicles for space, a situation which is not conducive for tourism, investments, as well as trade, and leisure, among others. The road network in the District is fairly extensive and may well be said to be adequate enough.  However, there are a few rural stretches that are in poor condition and would need to be upgraded.  

The Metropolis is relatively well served with transport services, mainly by buses, trucks, and cars (taxis).  Within the farming communities (house to farm), it is mainly by head portage.  Taxis, Trotros and Buses operate under the umbrella of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Cooperative Transport Association, Private Car Rentals, and Metro Mass Transport (MMT) Company.   Motor- and pedal-cycles are other principal modes of transport serving the Municipality.  Inter-urban and long-distance transport services are also fairly adequate with the GPRTU and Inter-City State Transport Company (STC) playing the most crucial roles.

One area that needs serious attention in the Assembly is the increasing spate of road traffic accidents.  Within the decade no less than 2,000 accidents have been recorded in the area, resulting in losses to hundreds of lives and millions of Cedis worth of property.  Part of the problem is with deviant driving behaviour at intersections especially at Pedu Junction on the Cape Coast-Takoradi trunk road.  Some amount of public education is needed to reduce the frequency and number of accidents.  It is also hoped that the installation of traffic light at the Pedu intersection would help to reduce accident risks.

The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly boasts of the best infrastructure and utility services in the country. The urban south is well supplied with potable water from the Brimso Treatment Plant. Over 90% of the residents are supplied from this source. However, rural water supply to the north of the district comprises bore-holes, wells and untreated water from the rivers.

The southern part of Cape Coast is well supplied with power. The north however, is not fully connected. Telecommunication facilities are fairly well developed with the Regional Automatic Exchange having a capacity of about 4000 lines. The number of public phone booths and private lines in the municipality continues to rise steadily.

The main post office is located at Brofoyeduru. There are three other post offices at Kotokuraba, Adisadel and the University of Cape Coast. A dense network of roads exists in the south, although the density reduces to the north. These roads are adequately serviced by taxis and public buses.

The Meropolitan area has a wide range of banking facilities. These include Ghana Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered, Barclays Bank, SG-SSB Bank, Agricultural Development Bank, National Investment Bank and Kakum Rural Bank. Cape Coast has both a university and a polytechnic. There are eight senior secondary schools, one technical school and one teacher training college at the second cycle level.

Finally, there are 31 pre-schools, 70 primary schools and 45 junior secondary schools in the metropolis. Health Care facilities are also comprehensive. An ultra-modern 240-bed Regional Hospital is located at Abura, Cape Coast, while the former Regional Hospital has been re-designated a District Hospital.

The University also has a hospital. There are numerous other health facilities, both privately and publicly owned, which handle specialised areas, including Dental and Eye Care, Public Health and Family Planning.

Water:

The urban south is well supplied with potable water from the Brimso Treatment Plant. Over 90% of the residents are supplied with water from this source.  However, seasonal shortages occur due to the drying up of the Kakum River.

River water supply to the north of the metropolis comprises boreholes, wells and untreated water from the rivers.

Electricity

Cape Coast is located on the national grid.The south of the metropolis is well supplied with power.  The north, however, is lacking in the supply of electricity.

Telecommunications

The capacity of the regional Automatic Exchange is about 10,000.  More public booths have been installed in the Metropolitan, in addition to private lines.  Again, cellular companies operate networks – Spacefon, OneTouch and Mobitel – in the Municipality. The new Regional Telecommunication Centre (TELECOM) was commissioned in November 1996.

The existing capacity of the regional Auto Exchange system in Cape Coast increased to 12,000, after the Third Telecommunication Project (TTP) of 1997. Telecommunication services in the Metropolis exist at such urban settlements as Cape coast Abura, Pedu, the University of Cape Coast and Nkanfoa.  Presently, there are 6,140 private and public telephone lines in Cape Coast with over 500 applicants on the waiting list.  The number of payphones in the Metropolitan is 176 with 15 on GSM.