Government to launch 5-yr road initiative

The Ghana Government is set to begin the implementation of a new five year initiative to improve the road network across the country.

Government is hopeful that the implementation of this plan, which it considers to be one of its major initiatives targeted at the road sector, will help to enhance economic activities in the country.

Ghana's President, John Dramani Mahama announced this in Kumasi on Monday when he joined thousands of Muslims in the Central Mosque in Kumasi, the capital of Ghana's most populous region -Ashanti Region - to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

He said payment challenges that have stalled some of the on-going road projects in the country have been been addressed to pave the way for construction to resume.

"I have noted recent concerns about the nation's road network. While a lot of work has been done, a lot more needs to be done. Government will soon commence a major five-year initiative to improve the road network across the country.

"This will include feeder roads, trunk roads and urban roads. This initiative will lead to significant improvements in roads across the country and I wish to assure my brothers and sisters in the Asokore Mampong area that the contractor will move back to site. We had a few payment difficulties but they have been ironed out so you will soon see him back on site, “he said.

Currently, a number of ongoing road projects in the country have been halted following the inability of government to pay the contractors, which has added to the burden of commuters and traders.

Monies purposely borrowed to complete the ongoing road projects, particularly the ones the government has tagged as the gang- of-four, which include the Suhum-Apedwa road, Sofoline-Abuakwa road, and the Legon-Madina-Adenta roads have been used to pay workers wages, stalling the completion of the roads.