Greater Accra will see massive road works – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured the chiefs and the people of the Greater Accra Region of massive road construction.

The President, who began a three-day tour of the region yesterday, gave the assurance in response to an appeal by the Chief of Ngleshi Amanfro, Nii Kwashie Gbolor IV, for improved roads and drains, particularly at Ngleshi Amanfro in the Ga South municipality, which was President Akufo-Addo’s first port of call.

A similar appeal was made at a durbar at Nsakina by the chiefs and the people of the Ga West, Ga North and Ga Central municipalities.
President Akufo-Addo said he had always wanted to visit the chiefs and the people to listen to their concerns.

According to him, all roads could not be constructed at the same time, but said a substantial number of the roads would be fixed for the people to witness the progress being made in the country.

He also made whistle stops at the construction site of the Pokuase Interchange and on the Dome-Taifa Junction road to acquaint himself with progress of work.

The President also inaugurated a housing project by the State Housing Company at Frafraha.

He was accompanied by some Ministers of State, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey; the Minister of Inner Cities and Zongo Development, Dr Mustapha Hamid, and the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Ishmael Ashitey.

Road projects

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Kwesi Amoako-Atta, said road construction was going on in earnest in all the 16 regions and the 260 districts across the country.

He said the government attached great importance to every part of the country, especially the Greater Accra Region, so that the national capital would be given a befitting status.

He said his outfit and the Ministry of Finance were liaising with the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces to use its expertise to assist in the construction of steel bridges.

He also expressed the hope that with the payment of GH¢2.2 billion to road contractors, all abandoned road projects would be reactivated.

"The disbursement started a month ago and in 10 days every contractor will receive a substantial payment.

Those we call single man contractors who were all crying are now quiet because of the promise honoured them," he added.

Mr Amoako-Atta mentioned a number of roads within the three municipalities visited which would soon receive facelifts — the Pokuase-Mayera-Katapo road, Borkorborkor, Afuaman, Abehensase, Kokobi, Sapeiman and Samsam Totobi roads.

Commendation

The Chief of Ngleshi Amanfro, Nii Kwashie Gbolor IV, commended President Akufo-Addo for introducing policies which had placed the economy on the right track.

He singled out the free senior high school (SHS) policy, which he said had come to make education accessible to all children of school age.

“In times past, schoolchildren indulged in gambling and some also dropped out of school, but the introduction of the free SHS by your government has made schooling accessible to all,” he added.

Nii Gbolor, however, appealed to the President to help solve the perennial flooding at the Kasoa tollbooth, the GICEL Estates and the Old Barrier section of the Accra-Kasoa road, which he said had been a bother to residents of the area, including road users.

Appreciation

At Nsakina, the Amasaman Mantse, Nii Amasa Oseku II, expressed appreciation to the President for the introduction of initiatives such as Planting for Food and Jobs and the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO).

"No man is perfect, and so it is normal that you have critics, but don’t be alarmed by the criticisms,” he told the President.

The chief also appealed to President Akufo-Addo to reciprocate the goodwill demonstrated by the people when they voted massively for him by ensuring that they got their fair share of the national kitty.