In the demonstration by Dome Berekuso residents, the prolonged delay in the Dome Kitase road rehabilitation project has emerged as a major issue affecting motorists and communities along the route. Project Manager at First Sky Construction Ltd, Nicholas Asare Tieku, has disclosed that the project stalled after funding difficulties disrupted the original contract and a new agreement remains outstanding.
The project, according to Mr Tieku, was initially awarded in July 2022 with an expected completion period of two years. He explained that the scheduled completion date was August 2024 before financial difficulties linked to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme affected the flow of funds.
The financial situation gradually slowed construction from January 2023 and eventually forced the consultant to leave the site in August 2024. Consequently, First Sky Construction Ltd could no longer proceed with the remaining works because the contract required a consultant to supervise construction activities.
A further development emerged when the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development suspended withdrawal rights under its active loan agreements. Since the Dome Kitase project was financed through a loan arrangement with the Kuwaiti government, the suspension removed the funding source required to sustain construction.
Work then suspended until January 2026 when the contractor received assurances through the Ghana Highway Authority that the project contract would be reassessed and re-signed. Mr Tieku explained that First Sky then returned to site in February and commenced work on the sub base course from kilometre four.
The contractor subsequently completed about three kilometres of the sub base works while awaiting formalisation of the new agreement. “We started laying of the sub base, which is part of the pavement structure of the road, and we did three kilometres of that,” Mr Tieku disclosed.
However, the absence of a formal contract eventually affected further construction as the company remained without payment for the work already undertaken. The Project Manager explained that construction activities stopped around May or June when the rains became heavier.
The contractor’s return to site was based on a letter of comfort received through the Ghana Highway Authority, which gave the company an expectation that a formal agreement would follow. From his perspective, the assurance provided sufficient basis to resume meaningful construction after earlier occasions when the company only graded sections of the road to keep them motorable.
The latest situation has therefore left the project between two stages, with substantial work already undertaken and further construction dependent on contractual and financial arrangements. Mr Tieku indicated that First Sky Construction remains ready to resume operations once the necessary approval and funding arrangements are secured.
Contractor Sets Completion Target As Funding Decision Looms
The stalled road project has recorded measurable progress despite the interruptions that have affected construction since 2024. The Project Manager of First Sky Construction Ltd, Nicholas Asare Tieku, has disclosed that overall progress currently stands at 35.85 percent complete.
The rural section of the project has recorded even stronger progress, particularly between kilometre four and kilometre 19. According to the Project Manager, work on that stretch has reached 56.58 per cent as the contractor waits for the conditions required to continue.
A key factor affecting the remaining work involves the heavily congested section between the Atomic Down roundabout and Airline Junction. The stretch covers about 4.4 kilometres and requires relocation activities and compensation payments for project affected persons before construction can advance fully.
Addressing the prospects of completing the project, Mr Tieku indicated that a formal contract would provide the financial structure required for sustained construction. He explained that pavement works require significant capital and contractors rely on interim payment certificates to recover expenditure and inject funds back into the project.
He added that the immediate priority is securing the contractual framework that will allow First Sky Construction to mobilise resources with greater certainty. The company therefore awaits the completion of the paperwork before committing further resources to the outstanding sections.
The earlier return to site demonstrated the contractor’s willingness to support the project despite the absence of a new formal agreement. That effort also resulted in three kilometres of sub base construction being completed before the financial and contractual situation made continued work difficult.
The company’s position is closely linked to the actions of the Ghana Highway Authority and the Ministry of Roads and Highways. Their role includes facilitating the contractual arrangements while addressing outstanding compensation issues that affect access to sections of the route.
Mr Tieku also linked the completion schedule to the payment of project affected persons whose relocation issues currently impede construction. Once those matters are resolved, he indicated that the contractor would have greater access to areas requiring substantial construction activity.
“The emphasis from our standpoint at First Sky is that we are waiting for a formal contract to be signed and then we can proceed with works.”
Nicholas Asare Tieku
The expected completion period could become clearer once the new agreement is secured and financial arrangements are activated. Mr Tieku projected that the remaining work could be completed within approximately one and a half years if the required conditions are fulfilled.
Several stages of the project are already in place, meaning future work can build on the progress recorded before the latest interruption. The contractor’s assessment therefore places emphasis on funding, contractual approval and access to affected sections as the main requirements for completing the road.
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