Lost, found: The direction’s dilemma

By Fiifi Nettey

Technology has significantly transformed the world, making everyday activities easier and more accessible—especially when it comes to navigation or finding places. With tools like the Global Positioning System (GPS) and digital maps, moving from one place to another is now faster, simpler, more reliable, and far less stressful than it was in the past.

Today, within Ghana and beyond, one can travel almost anywhere without having to ask a single soul for directions only depending on the GPS.

Many years ago, before the advent of GPS, navigation relied largely on human interaction—asking people for directions, memorizing landmarks, and trusting that the information given was accurate. In those days, locating a place could be quite frustrating, especially in Ghana.

Many Ghanaians struggle to give clear directions, often due to how they describe or narrate locations. Even when a familiar landmark is mentioned, one can still end up completely lost. The situation is made worse by our eagerness to help—some people, despite not knowing the location, confidently claim they do and proceed to give directions. While it occasionally works out, it more often results in confusion, wasted time, and increasing frustration.

Before GPS became widespread, every journey felt like a gamble—you either reached your destination or ended up in a completely different part of town. Many Ghanaians and foreigners can attest to this reality. Anyone who has ever asked a Ghanaian for directions will understand this struggle all too well.

I recall a particularly frustrating experience while trying to locate a place using a landmark I had been given. I was told that once I identified a newly built structure painted blue and Brown, finding my destination would be easy. Unknown to me, most people in the area were not familiar with the building and the colour. Choosing to go “old school,” because the street name was not clear and the landmark was confusing. I decided to ask around instead of relying on my GPS.

The first person I asked sent me completely off track. The second was slightly closer but still inaccurate. Eventually, a kind stranger noticed my frustration and offered to walk with me to the exact location. During our conversation, l remarked that while Ghanaians are warm and well-meaning, we are often terrible at giving directions. We want to help—even when we are unsure—and that only creates more confusion.

He smiled knowingly and told me he understood exactly how I felt that was the reason he offered to assist. He added that he had once been misdirected before and vowed never to

let anyone endure the same ordeal again. I know what you will go through if l don’t assist you. Luckily, he took me straight to the location l was looking for.

Francis once pointed out that one of Ghana’s biggest challenges lies in the naming of our streets. Street names are not widely known or commonly used by residents, which makes relying on GPS systems difficult. Many people simply do not know the official names of their streets, so navigating with GPS becomes a challenge. For example, in my area in Kokomlemle, my address is Hearts Street 24, yet the street leading from the main junction to my house has a completely different name. If one is not careful, it is easy to enter the wrong street name while assuming it refers to the same location. He noted that many Ghanaians have had similar experiences.

Nana Kwesi shared a story that perfectly captures the problem. “If not for GPS, the game changer in navigation” he said, “I honestly don’t know how I’d find my way town in recent times. Massa, my encounter was terrible! I walked around for almost two hours, following directions from people who sounded confident but had no idea where I was going. I went up and down, round in circles, and still couldn’t find the place.”

Laughing, he added, “When I finally gave up and returned to where I started, I saw my friend stepping out of the very house I had been looking for all along.” Thankfully, technology has come to our rescue. Today, all one needs is an internet connection and Google Maps. Enter your destination, and within seconds, GPS guides you straight to where you want to go—no stress, no confusion, and no misleading helpers.

He continued by saying GPS navigation in Ghana is not without its challenges. In some cases, mapping is either inaccurate; in others, frequent changes or inconsistencies in place names confuse the system. I experienced this firsthand when I took a ride-hailing vehicle to a location. Despite entering the correct street name, I was led to a dead end nowhere near my destination. I was surprised by the outcome. This is only some few incidents, but l say GPS is the game changer in directions.

Esther confirmed that the issue with GPS was not an isolated incident. On at least two occasions, GPS directions led her to entirely wrong locations.

Some ride-hailing drivers also told me, on authority, that sometimes the GPS  confuses them more than it helps. They explained that the system sometimes leads them away from the actual destination, directing them to different neighborhoods or dead ends where no roads exist. But he accepted the fact that it has improved navigating across Ghana, and without it, finding places will be difficult.

Friends of mine who live abroad told a different story. According to them, GPS systems in other parts of the world are far more reliable and take you straight to your destination without any issues. The GPS systems work properly. The only time you have issues is when the internet is not working properly. It is 100% accurate, they added.

Michael, a businessman who frequently travels across Europe and the United States, explained that GPS accuracy there is 100 percent and is widely trusted. It takes users directly to their destinations with little or no difficulty—a system he relies on when navigating unfamiliar cities.

This contrast makes Ghana’s situation troubling. The challenge may lie in the mapping of the streets or the unstructured way many houses are situated, all of which affect GPS accuracy.

Blessing, a Nigerian, said the main challenge she faces in Ghana is how directions are given. In Nigeria, people rely on street names, which makes it easier to locate places. She believes the introduction of GPS has simplified navigation in Ghana, allowing people to reach destinations quickly, accurately, and with precision. Although every system has its challenges, she noted that these can be corrected over time. According to her, GPS has become a lifesaver for directions across Africa and the world and not only Ghana.

Osei shared a compelling example of how GPS has transformed navigation across Ghana, noting that he is a direct beneficiary of the system. He explained that his work involves distributing items received from clients abroad to their families across the country, including in the northern regions. Without GPS, locating recipients and delivering their items would have been extremely difficult. GPS has made the process faster, simpler, and more efficient, enabling him to complete deliveries within a short time. He described GPS as a true game changer that deserves commendation.

Technology has undoubtedly made finding directions much easier. More importantly, it has helped curb one of our common habits—pretending to know places we actually don’t, yet still trying to guide others. Before the widespread use of GPS, locating places could be frustrating and unreliable. Without it, the situation today would likely be even more difficult than it was in the past.

The writer is a media consultant in Accra.

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