General News of Monday, 8 July 2024

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Roads ministry to set up call centre, maintenance app to address public concerns about road defects

Chief of Staff, Frema Osei-Opare (middle), Roads Minster, Asenso-Boakye and others at the event Chief of Staff, Frema Osei-Opare (middle), Roads Minster, Asenso-Boakye and others at the event

The Ministry of Roads and Highways, led by Minister Francis Asenso-Boakye, is set to launch a dedicated call centre and a mobile application designed to promptly address the public's concerns regarding road defects.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Roads and Highways and cited by GhanaWeb, this new Maintenance App will empower citizens to report issues such as potholes by uploading photos and providing location details directly through their smartphones.

During the Ghana Highway Authority's 50th-anniversary event in Accra, Roads Minister Asenso-Boakye stressed the importance of enhancing road maintenance practices across the nation.

He acknowledged that "successive governments have made significant investments in road development without a corresponding investment in road maintenance.”

In a strategic move to rectify this imbalance, the ministry has committed to dedicating "60% of its annual maintenance budget to support the call centre and app initiative".

The minister expressed his belief that “prioritizing maintenance, particularly in critical areas like pothole patching and spot improvements, will help address the country's poor road maintenance culture.”

The anniversary celebrations, themed "Ghana Highway Authority at 50 - Development and Maintenance of Quality Highways: Retrospect and Prospect," also featured the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.

She lauded the Ghana Highways Authority for its pivotal role in bolstering the nation's economic progress and connectivity over the past fifty years.

"The Authority has enabled the seamless flow of goods and services across the nation, connecting rural and urban areas and ensuring equal access to opportunities for all citizens, regardless of location," she noted.

She also paid tribute to the dedicated service of the Authority's staff, including notable figures such as Ing. Kwesi Abbey Sam, Ing. H.O.A Quaynor, Ing. B.L.T. Sakibu, and Ing. Sylvia Asare, a trailblazer for female engineers.

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