Open Street Fair pushes for people-centred road infrastructure in Accra

The Founder of Transform Transport Accra, Nii Noi Omaboe, is calling for a rethinking of how streets in Ghanaian cities are designed and used, insisting that road infrastructure should serve more than just vehicular traffic.

He says streets should provide spaces for walking, cycling, recreation, artistic expression and community interaction.

He made the call during an interview on the sidelines of the Open Street Fair organised by Transform Transport Accra at Abelemkpe, on Saturday, November 14.

The event temporarily closed the stretch to vehicular traffic, allowing participants to reclaim the road through activities including cycling, skating, walking, graffiti painting, floor art and games.

Participants also had the opportunity to experience electric mobility, including rides on electric buses and electric bicycles.

According to Mr Omaboe, the initiative was intended to demonstrate the possibilities of transforming urban streets into inclusive public spaces where people can engage in activities beyond commuting.

“The idea is to close the street and give people the opportunity to use the street to do any activity that they want beyond moving by vehicular transport,” he explained.

He said the fair had generated considerable curiosity among residents, particularly because streets are more commonly closed for funerals and other traditional activities rather than recreational and community-centred engagements.

Mr Omaboe, however, identified the excitement among children as one of the most encouraging aspects of the event.

He observed that many children enthusiastically participated in the painting and recreational activities, describing the opportunity as particularly important at a time when children have limited spaces to freely engage in such activities within their communities.

“What we’ve seen is a lot of kids really excited about how they are using the street today. Children these days don’t have the chance to do that freely in the communities that they are in, and I think it’s one of the highlights of the Open Street Fair,” he said.

He believes the experience should encourage city authorities and urban planners to reconsider the allocation of road space and invest in infrastructure that accommodates different categories of road users.

Mr Omaboe stressed that the distinction between road infrastructure and car infrastructure was important in changing public attitudes towards urban mobility.

“There’s a reason why we say road infrastructure and not car infrastructure. Streets do not only belong to cars,” he said.

He advocated the development of dedicated cycling infrastructure and pedestrian lanes to make streets safer and more accessible to people who choose to walk or cycle.

He added that the broader vision was to promote urban environments that integrate art, mobility, recreation and social interaction while strengthening connections within communities.

The Open Street Fair forms part of efforts by Transform Transport Accra to demonstrate how public spaces can be reimagined to prioritise people, encourage sustainable mobility and create more inclusive urban communities.