The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta, has said that in view of the wealth that comes from the Western Region, it was relevant that massive work was done to improve the road network to support the government’s One-district, One-factory (1D1F) initiative.
He said this, in relations to the commencement of construction and rehabilitation of 80 roads which cover about 1,135 kilometres in the Western Region whiles addressing the media ahead of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s five-day tour of the Western and the Central regions.
The road rehabilitation is being done with the aim of improving road transportation in the region.
Mr. Amoako-Atta said the Western Region had a road network of 5,289.7 kilometres, of which 45 per cent was in a very poor state and deserved a facelift, while about 30 per cent of the lot, stretching more than 1,641km, could be described as good.
Additionally, he said, 1,623km of the roads was considered to be fairly good, adding that in the coming months the region would see massive augmentation to its road infrastructure.
The minister explained that,
“Out of the 80 roads that were being tackled, 27 were under the supervision of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), while the Department of Feeder Roads was supervising 34 of them, with the Department of Urban Roads supervising 17.”
He also announced that a sod-cutting ceremony would take place soon for the commencement of work on an interchange at the Kwame Nkrumah Roundabout in Takoradi, popularly known as Ezii, in addition to other high-profile projects in the region.
The Roads and Highways Minister revealed that due to growth and population increase, Sekondi-Takoradi, the capital of the Western Region and third largest city in the country, was currently experiencing an increase in vehicular traffic and assured the people that the region would experience massive social infrastructure development.
Mr Amoako-Atta said the government was aware of the importance of good roads to the country’s development.
“One demand echoes everywhere the President goes, the demand for good roads and the government is seriously committed to providing them.
“It is the government’s firm belief that road transport infrastructure represents the pivot around which the economic development of the country revolves and we will not relent until the roads are delivered.”
He assured the people of the region that the President was committed to developing the region, which produces a lot of the country’s wealth.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, also said, “the President has always been committed to seeing the country develop, especially the Western Region” and commended the people of the region for their continued support to the government.
He then assured them that everything was being done to ensure that the projects targeted at developing the region were delivered.
President’s five- days Tour
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has embarked on a five-day working visit to the Western and Central Regions, where he is expected to commission some projects and pay courtesy calls on traditional rulers.
