Road Trip: Traveling From Lagos To Ghana By Road [Part 1]

The plan to travel to Ghana by road is one we have nursed since 2011. Each time we came close to achieving the dream, something else popped up—one of the people on the team relocates or changes his/her mind. The older we got, the more difficult it became to gather people together for this trip. But Adeola got an opportunity to make hers happen. She told the story on Ventures Africa.

Once or twice I thought of going on a solo trip. But for fear. Haha. As adventurous as I like to think I am, the thought of traveling to Ghana by road- crossing three borders alone- sent me back to the pages of the book I was reading.

But one day, in 2015, it happened. Spontaneously. With a new team.

It started with a dp update on BBM. My friend put up a picture about a road trip.

I zoomed in on the picture and then sent her a message asking if she was interested in a road trip.

Before we knew it, the budget was drawn and a date was picked. It didn’t go easy as a day before the chosen date a personal emergency popped up for one of us. But as quickly as it popped, it was resolved and we were able to embark on the exciting adventure.

Here is an idea of how the journey panned out:

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We had only three days to spend- Friday [May 1st public holiday] to Sunday. We planned to make every minute count or count every minute of it wisely. So we set out very early on Friday morning, amidst the fuel scarcity in Nigeria. We booked our ticket at ABC terminus in Amuwo-Odofin, Festac. We arrived there before 7.00am in order to successfully secure a seat. People most times book for tickets days before their trip for better seat options and all.

A few minutes past 7.00am, the bus set off. Before we got to Seme border, we were stopped by custom/immigration officers and a team from NDLEA. To travel out of Nigeria by road, you need to have a valid ECOWAS passport. No Visa is needed for West Africa border crossing. But a valid passport? Oh yes!

The officers wasted our time at the Lagos border. But I understand. They were doing their job. Ensuring no one was smuggling drugs or other contraband across borders.

Finally we got to Seme border and observed the new environment and culture from a distance. The bus stopped for another round of documentation at the border as traders rallied around to sell their goods. We also had money-changers calling out for deals.

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The real trip

The road trip began right after crossing the Nigeria-Seme border. As we drove through the small towns in Republic of Benin, it dawned on me how much of a big world surrounds us in Nigeria, yet we never really explore enough. Imagine if there was an academic programme that allowed young Nigerians spend a compulsory semester in another Western African country [I hear those who study French in university do this] but what if we opened it more to other fields?

The city looked familiar yet strange. And the trail of motorcycles [okadas] were almost endless—zooming across the streets like we see in Lagos mainland.

Through Contonuo we traveled. Through the busy streets. Into an untarred road. ZZZzzz. I slept and woke up and we were still in Benin Republic. The untarred road spread across us like a blanket covering an unmade bed.

Crossing Borders by Foot

 There was a bit of a dramatic twist to the journey when we came to the border between Benin and Togo.

We were all asked to alight from the bus and walk from Cotonou into Lome. I didn’t imagine that I would one day cross from one country to another on foot. But we did. And sharply too.

So in a long file [along with other travellers from other vehicles], we walked into the busy immigration-no-camera-allowed-zone to get to Lome.

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Traders who were eager to sell their goods shoved them into our faces, oblivious of the apprehension of first-time travellers or the unbearable heat from the sun. It was like we were closer to the sun in Lome. The skin of the locals looked fried [tanned].

We hurried on so as not to miss the bus or worse, loose track of other co-travelers.

After we successfully passed through the immigration check, we all got into the bus and continued the trip. Thankfully, we didn’t loose anyone to the crowded border.

RuralReporter3The streets of togo opened to us some level of liveliness. Not to be too quick to judge, it looked like Togo was a bit livelier than the other previous towns we traveled through.

The part that stood out during this leg of the journey was the beach party that we saw. A large crowded in uniform gathered around the beach—we were left to wonder what the gathering was about– I guessed it was the celebration of workers day.

 

Are we in Ghana yet?

Yes, we are in Ghana. The big gigantic wall that separated the two countries confirmed it. And the accent of the locals who pronounced English words differently [more posh?] re-affirmed it.

ARuralReporter2gain, we all alighted from the bus and those who had big luggage were asked to check it at the border control unit in Aflao, where immigration officers searched each bag carefully before marking it with chalk to indicated that it was cleared and safe to enter Ghana.

From Aflao to Accra took us another two-hours or more.

When we finally landed at ABC bus terminus at Avenor, I was exhausted. It was past 9.00pm-ish Ghana time. That is, about after 10.00pm Nigeria time.

We made it to Ghana, safely. We called our host to notify her that we were in town. We thanked the Lord.

Our journey back from Accra took about the same twist. Safe. Sound. And left us asking for more.

20150503_152031Young Nigerians and Ghanaians should do this road trip before they clock 40. Even those above 40 can give it a go. There is something rejuvenating about the experience.

I for one came by refreshed. Yes, that explains the smiles. Or maybe it’s a rub off from always-smiling Lady Azeezat, my traveling buddie.

Watchout for the next post on the key lessons I took away from this trip 🙂 I will try not to make it sound like a click-bait!

Until then, Me daa si, that means thank you!!

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Jennifer Ehidiamen founded RuralReporters.com in 2014. She is actively exploring the intersection between storytelling, tech and development. She has reported on global health and development issues in Africa for Voice of America (VOA News), Global Press Institute, Ventures Africa, The Nation etc. A 2016 Foreign Press Scholarship award recipient, 2013 Innovative Young Journalist Award recipient, 2013 New Media Fellow for International Reporting Project, and 2010 LEAP Africa Award recipient, Jennifer runs the Rural Reports project with a team spread across different regions in Africa. The news portal is dedicated to covering issues around rural development. Jennifer graduated from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism with a degree in Mass Communication and earned a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University. She has published three books: "In Days to Come" (2004), "Preserve my Saltiness" (2011) and "Half A Loaf And A Bakery" (2013). Jennifer currently serves as a full-time writer and communications consultant. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @Disgeneration
9 Comments on this post.
  • Gabriel Shaze ™
    14 June 2015 at 9:59 am -

    Hi
    Just stumbled on this post cos I’m planning on doing same this yr or next. I would like to know how much on average you spent on your journey to and fro.. I understand you had a host but if you could give any pointers on how much it would cost to stay for 3 days, I would really appreciate.
    Thanks

    • Jen Ehidiamen
      22 July 2015 at 8:40 pm -

      Hi Gabriel, it depends on where you will be traveling from– we traveled by road [from Lagos] and a friend hosted us. In sum, each person spent about N30,000 [thirty thousand naira only], if not less.

  • John Edide
    23 June 2015 at 12:16 am -

    lol done it before and will continue to do it when i have the opportunity and oppps one popped up lately. About the previous, i cellebrated my birthday in 4 countries i.e the road trip from Ghana to Nigeria. The memory cannot fade 🙂

    • Gershom Tsadiq
      7 February 2016 at 3:05 am -

      I’m thinking to make this trip. Any help would be great. Thanks

  • How Being Tech Savvy Is Altering Our Culture In Nigeria
    10 August 2015 at 5:04 am -

    […] I visited Ghana recently, a family I met in person for the first time hosted my friend and me. But the connection was built […]

  • Michael Nwoye
    29 October 2015 at 6:39 pm -

    Hi, no yellow cards requested? That’s a current vaccination card against yellow fever. Would not mind a road trip with friends.

    • Contributors
      18 November 2015 at 4:56 pm -

      Yellow card is requested of course.

  • Richard Ajuwon
    6 June 2017 at 10:46 pm -

    Hey there,

    I stumbled on this post while I was searching for information. Interesting post, by the way. When are you going to post part 2?
    I was looking for information: What do I need to travel by road in a private car from Lagos to Liberia with stop in Accra on the way. I have a passport and a valid driver’s license and ‘particular’ for the car. But I heard about a need for ‘lesse passe’ and ‘brown card’. which sounds like travel document and prove of immunization, but I am not sure. Why would I need one since Nigeria is a member of ECOWAS.

    Anyway, I know this post is old, but if anyone in the know reads this, please reply.

    Thanks.

    • Rural Reporters
      6 June 2017 at 10:48 pm -

      Approve.

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