Road improvement efforts need coordination

Over the past two weeks, the government has unveiled various initiatives that suggest a commitment to improve road surfaces and expand the network.

From the President launching the start of work on the Adentan-Dodowa road in the Greater Accra Region to the unveiling and distribution of a fleet of road construction machines to each of the 261 districts in the country, government gave cause for hope in its commitment to develop local road infrastructure.

The road construction machines, according to the government, will be deployed by the assemblies for maintenance works in their respective jurisdictions.

In addition to these, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakye, launched the "Maintain My Road" initiative that seeks to revolutionise road maintenance culture in the country.

The initiative combines a mobile app and a road maintenance call centre to be utilised by the public to report issues regarding poor road surfaces and other relevant challenges for rapid response from relevant agencies.

While these initiatives are welcoming in the wake of major challenges with Ghana's road infrastructure, it is important to coordinate the different acts into a comprehensive plan that deals with the issues holistically.

In particular, the bit about road maintenance remains a crucial thing that must excite the average person.

The “Maintain My Road” initiative, according to the sector minister, focuses on routine maintenance activities such as pothole patching, grading and repair of traffic signals.

Roads, without a doubt, form a core part of the foundation of national development for a country such as Ghana where roads are about the main transport routes for both goods and humans. Elsewhere, rail, in particular, and air transport complement the road transport system.

With rail transport almost nonexistent in the country, and air transport proving the least preferred choice for the public, road infrastructure remains seriously burdened with high subscription.

This is why it is necessary to look at the road maintenance culture in the country. And that is why the various initiatives intended to improve road infrastructure in the country need to be harmonised for the best results.

For instance, there should be clarity about what kind of maintenance works would be undertaken by specific agencies of state. It is through such coordination that avoidable duplications can be eliminated to save resources for other pressing needs.

A well coordinated approach will also prevent unnecessary conflicts over encroachment, but more importantly deliver the best results for the people in a timely manner.

After all, the essence of the total effort is to provide a better road infrastructure that deals with the challenges that afflict the system because of poor roads.

The road maintenance call centre must be handled with a professional attitude to deliver according to its mandate. This means that those who man the centre must relay the relevant information to the appropriate quarters timeously to trigger the necessary action within a relatively good time frame.

More than just another creation for the sake of it, the initiative should lead to tangible results that reflect the essence of the "Maintain my Road" appeal.

There are other aspects that need critical attention for the separate initiatives to succeed. One of them is the capacity of the district assemblies to handle and operate the road construction machines.

It should not be another case of careless handling of state property that leaves the expensive equipment damaged at the cost of the state. And it should not be another case of abuse of state property for the benefit of private individuals.

Indeed, the assemblies should be able to develop the capacity to deploy the machines for public use at reasonable fees as a further income generation avenue to support local development.

It must, however, be stressed that this proposal must be guided by strict operational rules to reduce the chances of abuse and corruption that will eventually defeat the purpose of the initiative.

Ultimately, the different initiatives are to complement one another to improve the quality of roads in the country and set a standard for a culture of maintenance.