At dawn, the junction at Taifa is already full. Trotros pull in and out, mates shout destinations, hawkers walk between vehicles selling bread, water and newspapers, and workers stream towards buses heading south into central Accra. A generation ago, much of the land around here was bush and farmland. Today Taifa is one of the many busy commuter areas on Accra’s northern edge, home to tens of thousands of people who travel into the city every day.
Where Taifa is and the junction
Taifa lies north of Achimota, between the Accra-Kumasi road corridor and the Kwabenya and Dome areas. It falls within the Ga East part of Greater Accra. As Accra’s population expanded from the 1990s onwards, families looking for affordable land moved north. Taifa’s farms gave way to houses, and the area filled quickly with homes, shops and churches.
The Taifa junction is the heart of the area. It is a stopping point for trotros heading to Achimota, Circle and other parts of the city, and traffic there can be heavy at rush hour.
Markets, housing and churches
Roadside traders and small markets serve residents, selling foodstuffs, clothes and household goods. Many residents run small businesses from kiosks or from their homes. Most homes are family houses built gradually over years, with some estates and rental apartments. Rents are lower than in central Accra, which attracts young workers and families. Like many Accra suburbs, Taifa has a large number of churches, from small congregations meeting in rented rooms to bigger buildings that draw crowds on Sundays.
Schools, roads, water and commuting
Public and private schools serve the growing number of children. Many parents choose private schools close to home to avoid long journeys. Some side roads are untarred, and drainage during heavy rains can be a problem. Residents often press their assembly members for improvements. As in many fast-growing areas, residents sometimes rely on water tankers and storage tanks, and power cuts affect homes and businesses.
Most working residents travel to central Accra, Achimota or the industrial areas. Journeys can take an hour or more in heavy traffic.
Neighbours, night life and the future
Taifa is close to Kwabenya, Dome, Ofankor and Achimota, and people move between these areas for work, shopping and family visits. In the evenings, food sellers, drinking spots and small restaurants keep the main roads busy. As Accra continues to spread north, Taifa is likely to keep growing, with new homes and businesses filling the remaining open land.
Most Accra residents know Taifa only as a name shouted by trotro mates. For the people who live there, the shout is the sound of every working morning.
