President cuts sod for dualisation of Adentan-Dodowa road

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday performed a symbolic sod-cutting ceremony at Dodowa to commence the dualisation of the Adentan-Dodowa Road Project.

The project, which began on March 25, this year, and being undertaken by Oswal Investment Limited, an indigenous Ghanaian firm, is 19 per cent done. The 22-km road project is expected to be completed in 36 months.

Essence

The very critical route is to facilitate the movement of goods and people, connecting the Greater Accra Region, the Eastern Region and parts of the Volta Region.

 A portion of the Adentan-Dodowa road before the sod-cutting ceremony. Picture: SAMUEL TEI ADANO

Known as Regional Route 40 (R40), the Adentan-Dodowa road begins at the intersection with National Route 4 (N4) at the Adentan Police Station in the Adentan Municipality in the Greater Accra Region.

The road passes through Frafraha, Amrahia, Oyibi, Dodowa, Ayikuma and Agomeda, before meeting Regional Route 30 (R30) at Trom in the Eastern Region, providing a vital connection from Accra to National Road (N3).

Along the route are many important national and private installations such as the country’s first private university, Valley View University, many residential and commercial properties and estates.

Comprehensive strategy

The President said the dualisation was part of the government's comprehensive strategy to enhance the main trunk roads in the country. "This initiative includes the dualisation of key routes such as the Accra-Kumasi highway, the Accra-Cape Coast road, Tema-Aflao road, and the Tema-Akosombo road," he said.

President Akufo-Addo added that his administration was focused on reducing travel time and significantly improving road safety. He said between January 2017 and December last year, the country had seen impressive strides in the road network nationwide.

According to him, some 12,830 roads had been constructed nationwide. They include two bridges constructed in communities 12 and 19 in Tema and at Taifa.

Amid cheers from party faithful, the President mentioned the ongoing Obetsebi Lamptey Circle interchange as well as that of the Pokuase and the dualisation of the Achimota-Ofankor road which had been expanded into a 10-lane facility with four interchanges at Amasaman, Kpobiman, Medea and Nsawam.

The construction of the 64km Tema-Akosombo road with sections to be dualised into six lanes was also mentioned. President Akufo-Addo said the government had also taken steps to resume work on projects that had stalled as a result of the debt restructuring challenge.

He assured the gathering that his commitment towards infrastructure development in Ghana was unwavering. Nana Akufo-Addo said each road constructed was a testament to his administration's dedication to fostering connectivity, enhancing economic growth and ensuring the safety of every Ghanaian.

"Let this project be a symbol of our resolve and shared commitment to progress," the President added.

Asenso-Boakye

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso-Boakye, said the dualisation of the Adentan-Dodowa road represented progress and a brighter future for the Greater Accra Region.

"The Adentan-Dodowa road is a crucial link in our national transportation network. The project plays a crucial role in our economy by facilitating trade and travel between the Greater Accra and Eastern regions," he said.

He said rapid urbanisation in that part of the city had resulted in severe congestion on the road, particularly during rush hours, posing challenges for commuters and obstructing economic activities.

Mr Asenso-Boakye said by constructing the road, the government had taken a decisive move to tackle those challenges.

Auxiliary facilities

The project will have asphaltic concrete pavements with binder and wearing courses to ensure a durable and high-quality road surface. It will also have service lanes on both sides of the main carriage way.

Unlike other projects, this dualisation makes room for adequate drainage structures to prevent flooding.

There will also be installation of streetlights to improve visibility and safety for night-time travel, provision of necessary traffic control devices and road line markings to enhance road safety and traffic management.

The minister urged residents along the project corridor to be patient with the contractor as the work progressed.

"Ministry of Roads and Highways would ensure that the necessary environmental, safety and traffic management measures are in place to tackle any inconveniences to motorists and road users," Mr Asenso-Boakye added.

Regional Minister

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, said the dualisation of the road would facilitate economic activities and provide relief for the congested communities.

He said 98 per cent of the population had been urbanised, with only eight per cent left in the rural area.