The government is to undertake a major facelift of principal streets in Accra ahead of the nation’s 70th Independence anniversary in March 2027, the Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has said.
He said the President, John Dramani Mahama, had directed the ministry to ensure that major roads in the capital were resealed before the anniversary as part of measures to give the city a new look.
“Accra is our number one city, and it is on us to make sure that we support the Ga Mantse and everybody to make it a pleasant place for us all to be proud about,” the minister said.
Courtesy call
Speaking during a courtesy call on Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, at his palace in Accra, on Wednesday (Oct 7), Mr Agbodza said: “The task has been entrusted to Oswald Investment Limited, whose personnel have already been working on sections of the capital’s roads, particularly at night, to minimise disruption to traffic,” he said.
The visit, which was at the invitation of the Ga Mantse, formed part of efforts to deepen collaboration between the ministry and traditional authorities on road development and other infrastructure projects in the capital.
Mr Agbodza was accompanied by his deputy, Alhassan Suhuyini; the Chief Director of the ministry, Samuel Kwasi Akuaku, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Highway Authority, Mallam Issah Ishak.
Stalled projects
Mr Agbodza said prior to the swearing-in of President Mahama, almost all road projects in the country were suspended even before the 2024 election.
He mentioned some of the critical projects, including the Ofankor-Nsawam highway, the Kasoa, Ashaiman to Akosombo and Tema Motorway to Prampram, all of which were stalled and “it was a big problem for everybody in the country, including the Ga Mantse”.
He added that from the Independence Square, along the beach road through to Nungua to Tema was also suspended because “our financing relationship with our Chinese partners collapsed as a result of our debt problem”.
“I must say that today, with the help of Oswald, that project is back on track and we are trying to complete it; we are determined to get that done shortly,” the minister said.
He expressed appreciation to the Ga Mantse for embracing government policies, especially issues relating to sanitation.
“We appreciate that level of leadership as it means that you are ready to work with all of us to make sure that we bring the city to the standard expected of us,” the minister said.
The Ga Mantse expressed appreciation for the initiative and urged the minister to include areas within Ga Mashie, where he said congestion and prolonged deterioration had made movement difficult.
“The road network within Ga Mashie has become very problematic because of the congestion.
There is a spillover onto the roads, and to have the roads to deteriorate the way they have, it makes it absolutely impossible to live.
“It is like living in a rural setting in an urban city, and that is what it looks like,” he said.
Roads Minister hails Humphrey Oswal as ‘dutiful contractor’
The Minister of Roads commended Oswal Investment Limited for its exemplary commitment to road construction and rehabilitation of critical road projects in the capital.
He described the Group Chairman of the company, Humphrey Oswal, as one of the “dutiful contractors who take their work seriously”.
He said the contractor had consistently demonstrated commitment to projects awarded, with his frequent presence on project sites, including at night, to supervise work and ensure that projects were delivered.
Mr Agbodza said to observe how committed contractors were to projects awarded them, he personally visited one of Oswal’s Investment Limited’s project sites, including the reconstruction of the 27.8-kilometre Dodowa-Afienya-Dawhenya- at about 9 p.m. without informing the contractor.
He said the unannounced visit followed the contractor’s assurance that he was working round the clock to complete road projects.
“I consider Oswal as one of the dutiful contractors in our country. He takes his work seriously. You will find him on site, blended into, as if he is just one of the other workers, day and night,” he said.
The minister said the contractor’s dedication had been particularly evident in the ongoing road improvement works in Accra, where the government had tasked him with undertaking several critical projects.
He said the government was determined to improve the road network in the capital as part of efforts to create a more functional and attractive city.
Further opportunity
Responding to a request by the Ga Mantse for the rehabilitation of roads within Ga Mashie, Mr Agbodza said his ministry would assess the road network in the area and determine what could be done.
He directed the ministry’s officials to work with representatives designated by the Ga Mantse to assess the roads within the catchment area.
“If we come out with the studies, and it is something we can afford immediately, I have no doubt that we can offer him an opportunity to stay for a year,” he said, in reference to Oswald Investment Limited.
The minister said the assessment would enable the ministry to establish the extent of the deterioration and determine the appropriate intervention needed.
He noted that the Greater Accra Region currently received a significant proportion of the government’s urban road budget because of the size and importance of the capital.
“Probably, we spend 70 per cent of our urban road budget on Greater Accra. And rightly so, because it’s the largest city and it’s the most important city in our country,” he said.
Jobs for residents
Mr Agbodza also welcomed the Ga Mantse’s request for opportunities for young people from the Ga State in road construction and related technical fields.
The Ga Mantse had appealed to the ministry to establish a quota for young people from the Ga State to benefit from employment opportunities in engineering, artisan and other technical areas under road projects.
Mr Agbodza said the request was consistent with the government’s vision for the Big Push programme, which, he explained, was not only about constructing roads but also about creating employment opportunities.
