Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has commissioned a 22-kilometre Cape Coast inner city road project meant to improve the road network situation in the ancient city.
The construction of the roads forms part of the Master Project Support Agreement (MPSA) between the Government of Ghana and the Peoples Republic of China through SinoHydro Corporation, which has silenced critics who doubted the viability of the deal.
Completed within 30 months, Vice President Bawumia was on Monday, joined by the Chiefs and people of the Oguaa Traditional Area at a colourful ceremony to officially open the road with a 50km/h standard design speed, for use.
He expressed delight at the event, describing it as yet another inner city roads from the SinoHydro agreement.
According to Dr. Bawumia, roads and interchanges built by the current Akufo-Addo Government are unprecedented.
“In the Fourth Republic, no government has constructed as many roads as the President Akufo-Addo-led government.
“This government has also constructed more interchanges and bridges than any other government in the fourth Republic and so when I say he is the champion; I mean it for that reason.”
This, according to him, has silenced critics, after they raised doubts over the feasibility of the Sinohydro agreement when it was signed a few years ago following his visit to China.
“I am particularly happy today because when we first mooted the idea of the SinoHydro road project after my visit to China in 2018, many of our political opponents said that what we were proposing to do under the SinoHydro road projects was not possible. They said we were lying.
“But today marks yet another day of the commissioning of yet another SinoHydro project.
“Unfortunately for some of our opponents, when we say something and they don’t understand, instead of asking for explanation and also reading about it, they don’t like to read, they don’t want to ask for explanation; they just say you’re lying. But today, as we commission the road, they are silent. They are no longer saying it is not possible”, Vice President Bawumia teased.
Easing traffic
The completion of the road infrastructure in Cape Coast, Vice President Bawumia observed, will reduce the travel distances and security challenges of residents and commuters who have described the roads in the city as “commuters’ nightmare.”
Sod-cutting
In November 2019, Vice President Bawumia cut the sod for commencement of work on the road, which involved clearance, drainage of ditches, culverts, roadbeds, earthworks, bituminous surfacing, pavement road designs and markings.
Some beneficiary communities are Kakumdo, 901m; Cape Coast Technical University, 2643m; Amissano, 2633m; PPAG road, 122m; Methodist mission house road, 1883m; PPAG Loop, 501m; Christian school road, 195m; Ecole Francaise, 237m; Eyifua road, 698m; Eyifua link 185m; English Arabic Road, 1359m; Methodist Mission link, 197m; and Academy Street, 992m all in the Cape Coast North constituency.
These, he indicated, are part of the Akufo-Addo Government’s overall commitment to improving road networks across the country.
Sinohydro projects
Apart from the Cape Coast Inner City project, Vice President Bawumia also gave updates on other on-going projects in other parts of the country under the SinoHydro agreement.
The list includes the Tamale Interchange, upgrading of selected feeder roads in Ashanti and Western Regions, as well as the Jaskian-Dodopepeso road, which have all been completed and commissioned.
The rest are 100km of Kumasi Inner City roads, the construction of PTC interchange in Takoradi, which is at 50%, and the construction of Sunyani and Berekum Inner City roads, which are 60% complete.
The Vice President reiterated the NPP Government’s commitment to its quest to improving road networks in the country.
A total of 4,410km of roads and two interchanges are part of Phase 1 of the Sinohydro agreement.
The road projects across the country, he noted, would enhance intra-urban regional and national traffic flow and strengthening regional economic integration.
Vice President Bawumia reassured the commitment of the President to diligently work towards improving and expanding access road network as demonstrated with the completion of the first ever interchange in Tamale in March this year.
Central region roads
In the Central Region, Dr Bawumia said government had embarked on numerous road projects including the completion of the partial reconstruction of a 30-km Cape Coast-Twifo-Praso and access roads to the Kakum National Park and upgrading of 20km road from Dunkwa-Twifo-Praso to Assin-Fosu, and the partial reconstruction of 15km Bawjiase-Agona Swedru.
Also, the Department of Urban Roads has completed about 30km of asphalt overlay works in Cape Coast, Agona Swedru, Winneba and Anomabo and re-gravelled 50km of roads and 7.5km of rehabilitation whereas the Department of Feeder Roads Department has upgraded 75km roads to bitumen surfacing including a 22-km road from Winneba-Ojobi to Akoti, Kushea-Abotareye-Atwereboanda junction, 16.5km, and Nyarkrom-Bobikuma, 12.5km.
On bridges, Dr Bawumia mentioned the construction of 105metre steel bridge on the Suprudo-Amissano-Mankessim road and a 25m, 20m and 40m steel bridges over Akra, Osine and Oki rivers.
Roads & Highways Minister grateful
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, thanked the people of China for supporting Ghana’s development drive and commended the Chiefs and the people of Cape Coast for collaborating to ensure timely completion of the project.
He stated that the region as at the end of 2020, had a total road network of 5,695km compressing 1880km of paved roads, 2320km of gravel roads and 1,495km earth roads with 24 per cent of the roads being gold, 37 per cent fair and 39 per cent poor.
Mr Amoako-Attah assured of periodic maintenance of roads through asphaltic overlay, reselling works, minor rehabilitation and upgrading, partial reconstruction and graveling and re-gravelling of roads to elongate their lifespan.
Mr Lu Kun, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, commended Ghana for the cordial relationship between the two countries, saying China was committed to accelerated development of Ghana.
He said notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19, China had been actively participating in the development agenda of Ghana and mentioned phase two of the University of Health and Allied Sciences project among others being supported by China.
The Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, in his remarks, appreciated government’s efforts to improve the road infrastructure in the Cape Coast Metropolis.
He, however, pleaded with the government for more projects to facelift the region in general as part of its renewed efforts to open the area to attract and retain investment to spur growth.
