The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Atta has disclosed that 6,000 out of 11,111 kilometres of roads are to be completed under government’s second year of roads programme.
Government has so far completed about 4,000km and will require some GH¢25 billion to complete the over 11,000km of roads across the country.
Disclosing these at a media briefing in Accra yesterday, Mr. Amoako-Atta indicated that the 6,000km fall under critical roads, cocoa roads, town roads and asphalt overlays and the Sinohydro Master Project Support Facility.
On critical roads programme, the Minister said part of the roads to be completed are Navrongo to Naga stretch, the Wa to Bulenga to Yaala road, Salaga to Ekumdipe to Kpandai road, which is 60% complete, upgrading of Yagaba to Mankarigu road as well as the upgrading of Daboya to Mankarigu road among many road projects
“As part of government’s year of road programme, 81 number of critical roads of total length 2,167.2 km were identified in all the 16 regions of the critical for rehabilitation at a cost of GH¢7.827 billion,” he said.
Under the cocoa roads programme, the Minister noted that 325 projects are currently ongoing across cocoa growing areas across the country.
He disclosed that 4,853 km of roads are being constructed at a cost of GH¢14.511 billion.
Providing more details, the Minister said these include the Aboabo to Esikuma to Dunkwa road, Have to Hohoe road, Sefwi to Wiawso to Akontobra stretch, the Dodokorpe to Borae junction road, Hohoe to Jasikan road among other road projects.
He said 563.3km of roads are to be completed under the town roads programme at a total cost of GH¢1.083 billion including the rehabilitation of Gambaga, Nalerigu and Walewale town roads as well as the phase 1 of the upgrading of Prestea and Tepa town roads among others.
Touching on asphalt overlay programme, the Minister said “the Ministry of Roads and Highways has programmed to undertake 1,500km of asphaltic overlay in major towns and cities across the country including hospitals, schools, courts, police barracks, army garrisons and other security service compounds.”
He said 1,301km of roads will be completed under this programme in towns such as Obuasi, Kumasi, Akwatia, Oda, Winneba, Swedru, Berekum among others at a cost of GH¢1.665 billion stating that by the end of this government, 3,000km of roads would have been completed.
On the Sinohydro Master Project Support Facility, Mr. Amoako-Atta said four road projects are ongoing including 2 interchanges.
20 interchanges to be completed in 2021
Mr Amoako-Atta said government will construct at least 20 out of its 25 programmed interchanges this year.
Providing details on these interchanges, the Minister the interchanges include the Tema Roundabout interchange, Nungua barrier interchange, Pokuase interchange, Tamale interchange, PTC interchange, Obetsebi-Lamptey interchange, Airport Roundabout among hosts of interchanges in different parts of the country.
According to him, the construction of these interchanges is a critical aspect of government’s developmental agenda stressing that this will help improve to a larger extent the country’s road network.
Ghana Gas Projects
Mr Amoako Atta disclosed that the Ghana Gas project is undertaking 87km of roads in some selected communities, which are about 90 percent complete.
The communities include Esiama Nkroful Road, Nkroful Town Roads, Elubo Town Roads, Half Assini Town Roads and Half Assini-Newtown Road, Asiama – Nkroful – Telekobokazo, Santasu – Baseke Feeder Road.
GNPC Projects
Mr Amoako-Atta also announced that the GNPC is supporting the road sector by funding the construction and rehabilitation of selected roads in the Oil and Gas enclave and the progress of 10 percent.
Total length of 200km is being constructed at a cost of GH¢12.68million.
Some towns to benefit include Telekinesis – Salman-Anibal, Telekubokazo – Asasetre-Anyinase, Asasetre-Akropong-Gyampre,Santaso-Asomase-Baseka.
Pipeline projects
The Roads and Highways Minister disclosed that there are projects including interchanges and bridges that will soon start.
These include the Paa Grant Roundabout,
Pedu Interchange, construction of Bridge over River Oti at Dambai/Dodikope, bridge over White Volta River at Nawuni on Tamale Mankarigu Road, Bridge over Pra River at Dunkwa on Offin on Obuasi-Dunkwa Road.
The rest are Bridge over River Baka at Apramdo on Takoradi Agona Junction Road, Bridge over River Butra at Ewusijoe on Takoradi Agona Junction Road,
Bridge over White Volta River at Pwalugu on Tamale Bolga Road, Bridge over White Volta River on Juanayili-Pusiga Road and Bridge over Pra River on Sekyere Debiso Sekyere Obuasi Road.