The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwesi Amoako-Atta has described government’s achievement in the road sector as unprecedented.
The Roads Minister said this in a media interaction as he announced the construction of five more interchanges in the Ashanti region of Ghana.
The completion of these projects, according to the minister, is expected to ease vehicular traffic experienced at major intersections within the region. According to him, Oforikrom, Bekwai, Ahodwo, Suame and Santasi roundabouts identify as areas the interchange projects will impact.
Also, Kwasi Amoako-Atta rejected claims that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has failed to construct roads in the region which happens to be the party’s stronghold.
“I want to assure the people of this region that developmental programmes in Ghana as a whole will be looked at in its entirety. And every region will get its first share of the national cake. But Ashanti Region will never be short-changed and your interest will not be toyed with as far as the road sector is concerned. Ashanti Region will always have its fair share of the national cake.”
Kwesi Amoako-Atta
According to the Minister, the Akufo- Addo’s government has undertaken massive road infrastructural development in the Ashanti Region than any other government.
“I am privileged to lead that sector on behalf of President Akufo-Addo. So, while looking at the whole situation, there is no way I will joke and toy with Ashanti Region. If you look at asphalt overlay, we started with 227 kilometres plan for Ashanti Region. As I speak, we have completed 174 kilometres.”
Kwesi Amoako-Atta
Second Year of Roads Declaration A Mirage
Meanwhile, the Minority spokesperson on Roads and Transport, Kwame Agbodza has described the second year of roads declaration by President Akufo-Addo as a mirage.
The NDC MP argues government has not made enough allocation to the Ministry of Roads to execute the road projects enumerated in the 2021 budget. And as a result, the reduction in allocation to the ministry for flagship projects is proof many roads will not be attended to this year.
Furthermore, he urged the public to lower their expectations. He also described the President’s first year of roads declaration last year as a failure questioning the commitment of government.
“Last year the government told us it was the first year of roads. The only amount provided by government in the budget for flagship projects was 1.2 billion cedis. Mr. Speaker in 2021 budget we are told that it is the second year for roads. But the amount of money government states in that budget is less than 1 billion cedis. Where is the commitment of this government towards funding roads in this country?”
Kwame Abodza
Additionally, Mr. Agbodza said he wondered what use government is putting proceeds of the Road Fund to rather than fixing the country’s roads.
“Mr. Speaker road fund we are told generated 1.8 billion cedis last year. How come government of Ghana cannot make that money available to the roads ministry? So Mr. Speaker government is misplacing its priority in terms of road construction. There is nothing in this budget that tells me all the lofty things they talked about will be adequately funded.”
Kwame Abodza
2021 Second Year Of Roads
President Akufo-Addo during the 2021 State of the Nation Address (SONA), intimated that 2021 will be a second year of roads. He said although the country’s roads are being constructed at a faster pace than before, there are still many more kilometres to construct. road sector road sector
“We defined last year as the year of roads. This year will be the second year of roads. As we continue with our focus on dealing with the deficits of our road infrastructure.”
Nana Akufo-Addo
