Nkonkonsa Celebrity Gossip From Africa
More than 100 lawsuits, ranging from human rights cases to ownership of portions of the road earmarked for the reconstruction of the 18.1 km Ofankor-Nsawam dual carriageway project, are hindering the completion of work on schedule.
With some of the cases dating back to 2022, the Chief Resident Engineer, Kwabena Bempong, told the Daily Graphic that his team would not be able to meet the government’s August deadline.
“These cases have dragged on for quite some time, and these are impeding the progress of the work because there are some areas where we have to relocate the utility lines like electricity, telephone infrastructure and water; and until they are moved, we are unable to complete the construction of our main roads and the service roads,” he said.
He also mentioned that the utilities’ relocation and legal disputes had prevented the start of construction on the Nsawam Interchange.
Despite this, during a working visit to the site last week, the Chief Resident Engineer informed Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Minister designate for Roads and Highways, that significant progress had been made.
Speaking to the minister-designate, Mr. Bempong reported that the crew had finished the Pokuase Interchange project’s underpass in addition to completing the railway bridge. He also mentioned that the retaining wall was about finished.
He added that on ten of the footbridges, around half of the work had been completed.
Ninety percent of the construction on the cross drain structures, or culverts, had been completed, stated the Chief Resident Engineer.
He said majority of the earthwork and sub-base had also been laid from Pokuase.
At Amasaman, he said the team had done about 30 per cent of the three-tier interchange.
For Pobiman and Medie, about 77 per cent and 50 per cent of work had been done on the interchanges, respectively.
He gave the minister his word that a sizable portion of the road would be finished in order to reduce the traffic that is now on it.
To improve traffic flow, Mr. Asenso-Boakye charged the contractors to finish the work by October.
He stated that the government was committed to the project since it will not only reduce traffic but also enhance mobility between major economic hubs, such as Accra and Tema.
Kumasi as well as the surrounding nations.
The minister-designate expressed gratitude for the project’s progress to date.
They proceeded to the Accra-Kumasi road in order to evaluate and observe the degree of deterioration on that section.
He lamented that the public’s lackadaisical attitude toward maintenance has caused the road to deteriorate even further.
NKONKONSA.com
