A management consultant, Maxwell Ocansey Arthur, has suggested to government to focus on fixing major roads across the country instead of constructing interchanges.
Speaking during a discussion, he intimated that,;he is not in favor of the interchanges because of the current state of roads in the country.
“The important roads like Accra to Kumasi like this has lots of potholes; the roads like Accra-Takoradi, or Accra to Elubo and those from Accra to Tamale and then Tamale to Bolga roads. I heard that if you go to the Wa-Bolga areas the roads are very bad. So, I don’t see why these interchanges, maybe they are add-ons or maybe beautifying.”
Maxwell Ocansey
He also explained that the interchanges are meant to ease traffic congestion but that does not happen. He explained that after the traffic is eased on these interchanges, it causes traffic on other roads.
“I don’t see the interchange to be anything because it is just easing traffic from a point and congesting at another point. If you are dualizing the road, then I think it will be better.”
Maxwell Arthur
Mr. Arthur further averred that much has not been achieved within the roads sector because of uncompleted projects.
“I think that when it comes to the road sector,;not much has been achieved because the projects that the Roads Minister talked about were projects that were initiated previously.
“If you look at the interchanges, the Obetsebi Lamptey interchange and the other interchanges,;they are all projects that were to be completed. The circle and Kasoa interchanges amongst others.”
Maxwell Arthur
Road projects not repackaged
He further disagreed with the NDC’s assertion that;plans by the Roads Minister to construct 6000km roads is repackaged and inadequate.
“I don’t agree with them because it is a cumulative problem. They also occupied the seat of the government and they could have also done better with the roads. I wouldn’t fault NPP and say the NDC did better. They all accumulated the problem.”
Maxwell Arthur
Also contributing to the conversation, Former Deputy Managing Director of NIB and a member of government’s communication team, Alfred Thompson, lauded government for its effort in ensuring the Pokuase and Tema interchanges are near completion.
He further clarified that the Pokuase interchange was started by the Akufo-Addo government and not by the NDC as purported.
Commenting on the press conference by the NDC criticizing the Road Ministry, Mr Thompson posited that it showed how “empty they are” and also indicates another big loss for them in the upcoming elections.
He further urged the party to offer alternatives and solutions to address whatever the government is doing, in order for people to take them serious as an opposition party.
“I expected the minority to do better than what they did. When they call you an opposition party, it does not mean that you just criticize and don’t bring better and relevant solutions or alternatives to what is being offered.”
Alfred Thompson
Mr. Thompson also averred that government is a continuum and whether a previous political party initiated it or not, the completion is dependent on the person delivering the project.
