BY Tracy Awuah Idun (UniMAC-IJ, Faculty of Journalism and Media Studies, Maconzybhabes@gmail.com)
The upgrade of the two-lane Ofankor-Nsawam road to a three-lane road is a crucial project to improve the infrastructure and connectivity on the Accra-Kumasi Road network. The road which is expected to be completed within two years, for some reasons work on the road has been delayed and residents are faced with several challenges. I visited the area for an overview of the progress made and challenges encountered by commuters.
The Ofankor-Nsawam section of the national Route six (N6) contributes a lot to the economy of the Country, serving as a major connecting road for communities in the Ga West Municipal Assembly, Pokuase, Amasaman, Medie, Sarpeiman among others. The strategic location of the Ofankor-Nsawam Road makes it one of the most important links in Ghana’s network as it serves the northern, central, Western, and Southern parts of the country thereby generating a huge band of influence on the transportation for the people of Ghana.
The road also serves as vital link for trade between Ghana and its neighbouring landlocked countries, Burkina Faso, Mail and Niger. Despite the seeming importance of the stretch, the road remains in a deplorable state as work has been on a standstill for some time. This situation causes a heavy vehicle traffic Day and night, particularly during rush hours. The man hours lost, coupled with vehicle maintenance cost, high cost of spare parts, fatigue, fuel cost are risk factors due to bad and rough nature of road. The big cars that are being packed on the road side also causes problems for drivers and residents.
Construction sometimes blocks all the lane leaving one road for Vehicle to use, leaving many blocked without prior notice to the residents and traders, which causes heavy traffic. Nana Addu Kofi a driver in Pokuase also says that due to deep potholes on the road, car tyres need to be changed every two weeks. Most car owners are unwilling to give their cars out to drivers in Ofankor, Amasaman, Pokuase to use due to the bad road and the ongoing construction he added.
Frequently I’m glad that they are doing the road says Nana Ama a trader in Ofankor. Her concern is the Government should construct a footbridge that will help commuters as well as school children to get to the other side of the road since most Schools and other buildings are on the other side. In addition, she is also pleading that, under bridge that was constructed is a long path to take and it is unsafe as well.
Trader in Pokuase says, the unfinished road construction is posing a threat to the trading in the Market, since there is no crossover or any bridge for them to use to get to the other end, they would have to use the long stretch or pass on the heap of sand to the other destination which if care is not taken it might lead to a fall.
Residents plying the road on a daily basis are calling on authorities to speed up work to end their woes, recently the Minister for roads and Highway, Mr. Francis Asenso-Boakye, visited the Ofankor-Nsawam Junction rehabilitation site to acquaint himself with progress of the work.
Mr. Kwabena Bempong who is the Engineer on site said, despite the challenges, the project has made commendable progress and its completion will deliver lasting benefits.
