Road and Building Consultant, Ing. Abdulai Mahama, has lamented the debilitating state of the Tema motorway in recent times.
According to him, the reconstruction is long overdue and has been corroborated by experts in road construction who have stated categorically with available records that the motorway has expired. He indicated that the mitigating measures that are being carried out are just for some few durations.
Ing. Mahama stated that the motorway was commissioned in 1965 and several years down the line, the road is supposed to have been reconstructed. He noted that despite the promises by several Presidents and ministers assuring Ghanaians on yearly basis about the plans and MOU’s being signed by Japanese, South African and European entities, the situation hasn’t changed.
“The motorway has to be constructed completely. Last year, we were told that we were going to have multiple lanes, express lanes and we’ll have service lanes, and they will be tolled separately. Maybe, the express lanes will be tolled, and the service lanes may not be tolled. We are still where we are, sadly.”
Abdulai Mahama
For some years, the Tema motorway has witnessed settlement of communities and commercial vehicles making stops to drop-off and pick up passengers which significantly defeats the purpose of it being described as a highway. Commenting on this, Ing. Mahama stated that stakeholders have over the years had issues with the development authorities which include the Tema District Council and the Tema Municipal Assembly.
He explained that the duo continuously issue licenses for warehouses, factories and other facilities to operate very close to the motorway.
“I have said time without number that the people who are making the course of road projects in Ghana very expensive are about three and the Assembly is the major contributor to the deviation of project cost. ECG is another contributor to the variations that we see on road projects and the last is the Ghana Water Company Limited.”
Abdulai Mahama
The road consultant bemoaned the complicity of the Tema Municipal Assembly in the issue. He stated that it’s been ten years since stakeholders have hammered on the fact that the motorway should be expanded. Unfortunately, he revealed that from the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange moving towards the Tema enclave, which is about a 2-kilometer stretch, he has seen few encroachers.
Reconstruction of Tema motorway
On the other side, Ing Mahama noted that when one is heading towards Ashaiman, nearing the motorway roundabout, he is okay with the road reservation since there will not be much compensation.
“But the developments along the project corridor have brought about some of the discomforts. Even with floods where we started experiencing floods within the Tema motorway sectionalized and localized parts, it has always been a fact that all the tunnels that have been constructed on the motorway were not for vehicular passage, but for cattle instead so they don’t come into contact with motorists who are plying the route.”
Abdulai Mahma
Ing Mahama cited that the motorway is just one example of the about 18-kilometer stretch government has to find money as soon as possible to construct. To this end, he called on government to increase the allocation for the construction and expansion of the motorway since prices of materials have surged over the years.
That notwithstanding, he commended the designs for the stretch which he has come across, describing it as very good.
“I’m sure this year they have to go higher because the cost of all the various components; the chippings, cement, iron rods and then the bituminous substances have escalated in terms of prices. So, I’m not too certain that the $570 million that has been peddled for the past two years will be adequate for the type of design that we are being made to believe is going to be used for the construction.”
Abdulai Mahama
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