Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has cut the sod for commencement of the Tamale-Walewale road project starting with phase one which covers about 83km stretch from Savelugu to Walewale in the North East Region.
The project is being financed by the Indian Exim Bank.
According to Dr Bawumia, the project is part of the Central Corridor of the trunk road system of the country which connects the National City, Accra, to the northern part of Ghana.
“This is a vital link for trade between Ghana and its neighbouring landlocked countries-(Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger) and for transit cargo from the Ports of Ghana to these countries.”
The Vice President stated the objective of the project is to enhance intra-urban, regional and national trade, strengthen regional economic integration, as well as, reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
The section of the road within the Walewale township he added will be dualized with all the necessary safety measures emphasizing the Walewale-Nalerigu intersection will be upgraded separately into an interchange.
He noted the Akufo-Addo government is undertaking various road projects throughout the country, particularly in the North.
“This is necessary to enhance safety, boost trade, improve accessibility, reduce vehicle operating costs, amongst others.”
He mentioned some of the completed and on-going works include the completion of asphalt overlay of 100 km of roads in Northern, North East and Savannah regions and the beneficiary towns include Nalerigu, Walewale, Gambaga, Damongo, Yendi and Tamale.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia added the NPP led administration was also doing other major road corridors such as the Eastern Corridor, which links Tema, Asikuma, Hohoe, Bimbilla, Yendi, Gushegu, Gbintiri, Bunkprugu, Garu, Bawku and Polimakom and the Western Corridor, which links Elubo-Enchie, Goaso, Sunyani, Techiman, Bole, Wa, Lawra, Nandom and Hamile.
Asphaltic Overlays
The Vice President indicated since 2021, a total of 710km of asphalt overlays have been undertaken throughout the country and assured that the Government’s asphalt overlay program shall continue as it is expected that by the end of 2024, a minimum of 1,500km of asphalt overlay works would be undertaken nationwide.
“I wish to state that, generally, there have been considerable improvements in the road network in the country as more sections of roads are being upgraded from gravel surface to bitumen surface dressed roads or asphalt concrete surfacing. As the road network improves, we expect more efficient use of travel time, movement of goods and improved supply chains” he said.
Bilateral/Multilateral relations
Dr Bawumia commended the development partners for the bilateral and multilateral support for the strides in the country’s socioeconomic transformation and prayed that this would continue to yield mutual benefits.
He also expressed the gratitude of Government to the good people of Ghana who contribute in diverse ways to our development agenda.
