Mahama inspects Tetteh Quarshie-Atomic Junction road

Kwame Asare Boadu Apr - 15 - 2014 , 09:10

President John Dramani Mahama yesterday inspected work on the 4.6-kilometre Tetteh Quarshie-Atomic Junction road and charged the contractors to keep to their promise to complete the project by the end of July this year.

The project, which started in November 2006, was originally scheduled for completion in January 2012. But budgetary constraints delayed the work, creating serious challenges for motorists who want access to the campus of the University of Ghana.

The delay has also created terrible traffic congestion along the stretch.

Messrs Sonitra Limited are the contractors for the project.

Management

Mr Mahama said the completion of the road would very much improve traffic management in Accra.

He expressed the hope that work on the Agbogba-GIMPA road would also proceed, so that the distraction the University of Ghana experienced with traffic would be addressed.

“When those two projects are completed, the northern part of the city will be free from traffic congestion,” he said.

Other roads

Touching on other roads, the President said there were some works to be done, especially in Community 18 in Tema and on the road from Burma Camp to the Spintex Road.

He emphasised the fact that good roads remained one of the major priority areas of the government, adding that improved roads added to the Gross Domestic Product of the country.

"If people are able to transport their products much faster, it leads to a reduction in the prices of goods," he stated.

He welcomed the decision by the Ministry of Roads and Transport to construct two footbridges at the PRESEC and the Okponglo sections of the Tetteh Quarshie-Atomic Junction road to help protect lives.

Advice to drivers

Mr Mahama also asked drivers to avoid recklessness on the road.

"It doesn't pay for the government to put in so much money to improve roads if lives will be lost on those roads," he added.

Roads Minister

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Alhaji Amidu Sulemani, said funds were now available to complete the work.

Already, work done had eased much of the traffic, he said, and expressed the hope that the remaining work would proceed with all seriousness.