Philadelphia Church camp meeting causes massive gridlock on Accra-Kumasi Highway

Thousands of commuters found themselves trapped in a gruelling parking lot scenario on the Accra-Kumasi Highway early Thursday, January 1, 2026, following the conclusion of a massive religious gathering by the Believers Worship Centre, also known as the Philadelphia Church or the Second Chance Church.

The gridlock, which centred around the Atwidie stretch of the N6 Highway, was triggered by the synchronised departure of thousands of worshippers from a major camp meeting hosted by the Philadelphia Church led by Prophet Stephen Adom Kyei-Duah.

As the 24-hour New Year’s Eve vigil concluded, an overwhelming surge of private vehicles and chartered buses merged onto the main artery, overwhelming the road’s capacity.

Commuter Nightmare: A Three-Hour Standstill

For many travellers attempting to make the cross-country trip to Accra for New Year’s Day celebrations, the journey became an endurance test.

Reports indicate that the tailback extended for several kilometres, affecting key transit points including Juaso and Konongo.

Maame Adepa, a distressed traveller who spoke to reporters while stuck in the heat, described a frustrating start to the year.

“I have been in this traffic for three hours since 4:00 am this Thursday,” she lamented. “We thought leaving Kumasi at dawn would give us a clear path to Accra, but we haven’t moved more than a few metres since we reached the Atwidie area. It is a complete standstill.”

She was not the only one in distress, as another traveller indicated that he had been on the road since 10PM the previous day, suggesting he had been stuck for more than six hours in the traffic.

The “Philadelphia” Surge: Logistics vs. Faith

The Philadelphia Church camp meeting, which reportedly drew participants from across the northern and middle belts of Ghana, is one of several large-scale religious events held annually during the “Crossover” season.

While the events bring spiritual renewal, the logistical fallout on the N6 Highway—Ghana’s most vital commercial corridor—has reignited calls for better traffic management during religious holidays.

Local residents in Atwidie noted that the lack of adequate parking within the camp grounds forced many buses to pick up passengers along the shoulders of the highway, further narrowing the available lanes for through-traffic.

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