Road trips
Accra to Koforidua by Car: Distance, Hours, Route and Car Rental & Hire
Quick answer: Driving from Accra to Koforidua, you have two main roads. The N4 climbs the Akuapem hills through Aburi, Mamfe, Adawso and Okorase. The N6 (the Accra–Kumasi road) runs through Nsawam to Suhum, where you turn off for Koforidua. The Ghana Highway Authority doesn't publish an Accra–Koforidua distance, and we found no official journey time, so we don't quote one. Allow for traffic leaving Accra and plan to arrive in daylight.
Koforidua is the capital of the Eastern Region, confirmed by Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ghana Tourism Authority. This guide covers the drive from Accra: which road to take, what official sources say about distance and hours, current roadworks, and how to book car hire & rental with or without a driver.
How far is Koforidua from Accra?
| Question | What official sources say |
|---|---|
| Accra to Koforidua, door to door | No official figure published |
| N4 Accra–Bunso (whole road, via Koforidua) | 110 km (GHA) |
| Existing Peduase–Mamfe–Koforidua junction road | 51 km (Graphic Online, 2021) |
| Accra to Aburi Botanical Gardens | About 28 km (GTA) |
| N6 Accra–Kumasi (whole road) | 250 km (GHA) |
| N3 Kpong–Koforidua | 40 km (GHA) |
| Official journey time | None published |
The Ghana Highway Authority's road network table gives the N4 from Accra to Bunso as 110 km. Koforidua is on that road, but short of Bunso, so the Accra–Koforidua part is less than 110 km. The GHA doesn't say how much less.
Graphic Online reported in 2021 that the existing road from Peduase Lodge through the Mamfe roundabout to the Koforidua junction is 51 km long. Peduase is above Accra on the way up the hills, so that figure leaves out the drive out of the city.
Route planners and travel blogs quote their own distances, but they aren't official sources, so we don't repeat them.
Which road: N4 via Aburi or N6 via Suhum?
The GHA's Eastern Region trunk road map (2020) shows both roads.
1. The N4 over the Akuapem hills (the most direct road)
- Leave Accra on the N4 towards Adenta and up the hill to Aburi.
- Continue to Mamfe, then turn west through Kwamoso to Adawso.
- Head north through Tinkong and Okorase into Koforidua.
This road climbs and bends through hill towns, so drive with care. In April 2025 MyJoyOnline reported that the Ministry of Roads and Highways had started installing crash barriers on the Koforidua–Mamfe–Aburi Highway.
2. The N6 via Nsawam and Suhum
- Leave Accra on the N6 (the Accra–Kumasi road) through Ofankor, Amasaman and Nsawam.
- Continue to Suhum.
- Turn off at Suhum for Koforidua.
The N6 is the main road to Kumasi. If you're going on past Koforidua, our Accra to Kumasi road trip guide covers it.
Other roads in. When the GHA closed the Koforidua–Mamfe road for emergency repairs in July 2017, Graphic Online reported that motorists used the Aburi–Nsawam, Nsawam–Suhum and Adukrom–Nkurakan roads to Koforidua instead. The GHA also lists the N3 from Kpong to Koforidua (40 km), which links Koforidua with the Akosombo and Somanya side.
How many hours from Accra to Koforidua?
We found no official journey time for Accra to Koforidua from the GHA, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Graphic or GNA as of 26 October 2026. Online route-planner and blog estimates aren't official, so we don't quote them.
What we can say is that the time depends on traffic. Leaving Accra on either road can be slow at peak times, and the roadworks below can add delays. The Ghana Tourism Authority describes Aburi Botanical Gardens, about 28 km from Accra on the N4, as "just an hour's drive from Accra". That's only part of the way to Koforidua.
Roadworks and road condition (checked 26 October 2026)
Mamfe–Koforidua (N4). Graphic Online reported in December 2021 that Parliament had approved €150 million for the Peduase–Mamfe–Koforidua Scenic Route project. That includes dualising 31 km of the Mamfe–Koforidua road, with 30 months for design and construction. In November 2023, Citi News reported that the Eastern Region GPRTU called the Mamfe–Koforidua road "deplorable". It said some drivers were diverting through Nkurakan and Adukrom, a longer route. We couldn't find a 2026 report from the GHA, Graphic or GNA saying whether the dualisation has started or finished. Expect a single-carriageway hill road, and ask your driver about its current condition.
Ofankor–Nsawam (N6). Graphic Online reported in December 2025 that the 33.4 km Ofankor–Nsawam dualisation was 77% complete. In May 2026, Citi Newsroom quoted the Chief Resident Engineer as saying work was 82% complete, with the rest mainly around Nsawam. Officials were seeking more time because of compensation claims and moving utility lines. We found no confirmed completion date. Expect works and possible diversions around Nsawam.
Daylight driving
For longer trips outside major cities, the UK FCDO's Ghana safety advice says to travel during daylight hours. It also advises avoiding road travel outside the main towns after dark, when street lighting is poor or non-existent, serious accidents are more likely and there's a higher risk of attacks on vehicles.
Both roads to Koforidua run outside the main towns for long stretches, and the N4 has steep hill sections. Plan to arrive before dark.
Going on from Koforidua: Kwahu and Kumasi
The GHA's map shows the N4 continuing north from Koforidua to Bunso, where it meets the N6 to Kumasi. That makes Koforidua a stop on the way to the Kwahu hills. For the Easter festival, dates and driving tips, read our Kwahu Easter travel guide. For Kumasi, use the Accra to Kumasi road trip guide.
Car rental & hire for Accra to Koforidua
Most people book in Accra. Compare car hire & rental with a driver in Accra. If you're already in the Eastern Region, look at firms offering car hire & rental in Koforidua or browse the Eastern Region.
Self-drive or a driver?
The N4 is a bendy hill road and the N6 has roadworks around Nsawam. A local driver will know which road is flowing on the day. Our self-drive or chauffeur guide sets out the trade-offs. If you drive yourself, check the firm's mileage limits and whether the car may leave Greater Accra.
Agree the terms in writing
Before you leave, agree these in writing (a WhatsApp message or email from the firm is fine):
| Agree in writing | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Pickup time and address | So you leave early enough |
| Which road the driver will take | N4 or N6, and what happens if one is blocked |
| Hours included and the overtime charge | So traffic delays don't become a dispute |
| Fuel, tolls and parking | So you know what's in the price |
| Driver's meals and overnight stay | If you stay in Koforidua or go on to Kwahu |
| Latest return time | So you're back before dark |
Never pay a deposit into a personal account that doesn't match the firm's name. There's no site-wide price list here, because Ghana prices change often. Ask each firm for a dated written quote.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Accra to Koforidua?
No official door-to-door distance is published. The Ghana Highway Authority lists the N4, which runs from Accra through Koforidua, as 110 km from Accra to Bunso, beyond Koforidua. Graphic Online reported in 2021 that the existing Peduase–Mamfe–Koforidua junction road is 51 km.
How many hours is Accra to Koforidua by car?
We found no official journey time from the GHA, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, Graphic or GNA. It depends on traffic leaving Accra and on roadworks, especially around Nsawam on the N6. Plan to arrive in daylight.
What is the best road from Accra to Koforidua?
The N4 over the Akuapem hills through Aburi, Mamfe, Adawso and Okorase is the most direct road on the GHA map. The N6 through Nsawam to Suhum, then on to Koforidua, is the other main road. Ask your driver which is flowing better on the day.
Is Koforidua the capital of the Eastern Region?
Yes. Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ghana Tourism Authority both list Koforidua as the capital of the Eastern Region.
Is the Mamfe–Koforidua road being dualised?
Parliament approved a €150 million project in 2021 that includes dualising 31 km of the Mamfe–Koforidua road, Graphic Online reported. We couldn't find a 2026 official or news report saying whether work has started or finished.
Can I hire a car with a driver from Accra to Koforidua?
Yes. Compare firms offering car hire & rental with a driver in Accra, or firms in Koforidua. Agree the hours, fuel, waiting time and return time in writing before you go.
Plan your trip
Compare car hire & rental with a driver in Accra or firms in Koforidua, and read the Kwahu Easter travel guide if you're heading on to the hills. Send each firm your date, pickup address and number of passengers, and ask for the price, hours and terms in writing.
Sources
- Road Network: N4 Accra–Bunso 110 km, N6 Accra–Kumasi 250 km, N3 Kpong–Koforidua 40 km (checked 26 October 2026) (Ghana Highway Authority)
- Eastern Regional Trunk Road Map, 2020 (N4 via Aburi, Mamfe, Adawso and Okorase to Koforidua; N6 via Nsawam and Suhum; Koforidua marked as regional capital) (Ghana Highway Authority)
- Regions in Ghana: Eastern Region, capital Koforidua (checked 26 October 2026) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ghana)
- Eastern Region: Koforidua the regional capital; Aburi Botanical Gardens about 28 km and 'just an hour's drive' from Accra (checked 26 October 2026) (Visit Ghana, Ghana Tourism Authority)
- Parliament approves €150m Peduase-Mamfe-Koforidua Scenic Route project (existing road 51 km; 31 km Mamfe–Koforidua dualisation; 15 December 2021) (Graphic Online)
- E/R GPRTU calls on govt to expedite action on Mamfe to Koforidua stretch (drivers diverting via Nkurakan–Adukrom; 23 November 2023) (Citi Newsroom)
- Roads Ministry begins installation of crash barriers to boost highway safety (Koforidua–Mamfe–Aburi Highway; 12 April 2025) (MyJoyOnline)
- GHA undertakes rehabilitation works on Tinkong and Nyamebekyere Road in E/Region (alternative routes to Koforidua; 29 July 2017) (Graphic Online)
- Ofankor-Nsawam highway 77% complete (33.4 km section of the N6; 4 December 2025) (Graphic Online)
- Ofankor-Nsawam road project reaches 82% completion — Resident Engineer (26 May 2026) (Citi Newsroom)
- Ghana travel advice: safety and security (daylight travel on longer trips; roads outside main towns after dark; checked 26 October 2026) (UK FCDO)
Last checked: 26 October 2026. Rules, prices and advice change, so recheck official sources before you travel.
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Photo: Enock4seth, CC BY-SA 4.0
